Rs 14.8 billion allocated to Punjab health sector

The Punjab government has allocated Rs 14,800 million for the health sector in the provincial budget for 2011-12, against the current year's (2010-11) Rs 14,500 million.
According to the Annual Development Programme 2011-12, the government will spend Rs 693.008 million on preventive and primary healthcare, Rs 2220.791 million on accelerated programme for healthcare, Rs 4378.376 million for tertiary care hospitals, Rs 1454.768 million for medical education, Rs 258.058 million on research and development and Rs 95 million on devolved projects in health department.
For the 110 ongoing schemes, an amount of Rs 8487.001 billion has been set aside in the budget, while Rs 6313 million has been allocated for 12 new schemes. This shows that focus of the government is on completion of ongoing schemes in the health sector.
As per budget documents, in line with the policy of the present government to provide free medicines, disposables and provision of dialysis facilities in public sector hospitals, an increase of around Rs 3399.746 million has been made in the budget estimates for 2011-12. An amount of Rs 8500 million has also been made available under Punjab Millennium Development Goals Programme (MDGs), which is the binding constraints in the health sector.
The government will also strengthen Rural Health Centres (RHCs) besides upgrading/establishing District and Tehsil level hospitals. For the year 2011-12, the Punjab government has allocated funds for providing latest diagnostic and treatment facilities in all teaching hospitals, besides setting up Drug Testing Laboratories at Faisalabad and Rawalpindi. Establishment of Food Testing Laboratories at Faisalabad and Rawalpindi and PCR based Diagnostic Lab at Lahore have been planned. Drug Testing Lab at Multan would also be upgraded.
With a view to providing health cover to people of far-flung areas, as many as 20 Mobile Health Units will be launched in 2011-12. The government has planned to upgrade the School of Nursing at Rawalpindi up to degree level, beside establishing new medical colleges, to remove inequity in doctor-to-population ratio. The government has also allocated funds for expansion of Multan Institute of Cardiology and Children Hospital Multan besides setting up Burn Units at Lahore, Faisalabad, Multan and Rahim Yar Khan.
Total outlay of budgetary allocations for health sector is of Rs 48.8 billion, against current year's Rs 42.9 billion, showing an increase of 13 percent. An amount of Rs 25.5 billion has been allocated for running expenditures, while Rs 23.3 billion has been set aside for developmental projects.
Rs 2100 million has been allocated for the Emergency Service Sector. With a view to providing quality rescue and emergency services to the citizens, the Punjab government has decided to extend the scope of Rescue-1122 to tehsil level, in a phased programme. In the budget for 2011-12, an amount of Rs 2100 million has been allocated for the Emergency Service Sector.
Under Phase-I, Rescue-1122 services would be introduced in 12 tehsils of Punjab, namely Liaqatpur, Ahmedpur East, Jaranwala, Sadiqabad, Kharian, Chichawatni, Pattoki, Kabirwala, Mian Channu, Gujjar Khan, Muridke and Khanpur. Sustainable human resource development has been ensured through the establishment of Emergency Services Academy of international standards.
Rescue 11-22 Service was introduced during tenure of Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi who used to mention about this service as one of major achievements of his government. Social Protection The Punjab government has allocated Rs 935 million for Social Protection sector in the budget for 2011-12, reflecting an increase of Rs 535 million.
Major initiatives in this sector would include: establishment of Drug Rehabilitation Centre Multan (Rs 13.645 m), implementation of Gender Reform Action Plan (Rs 100 m), establishment of 7 Children Homes in Narowal, DG Khan, Sialkot, Sargodha & Rawalpindi (Rs 18 m), strengthening/establishment of Old Age Home (Rs 12.017 m), establishment of Beggars' Home at Lahore (Rs 15 million), establishment of Hostel for Working Women at Sahiwal (Rs 10 million), development of new schemes for women empowerment (Rs 285 million), establishment of 50 new Vocational Training Institute (Rs 130.338 million). Block allocation of Rs 290 million has been made for Punjab Vocational Training Council in the budget for 2011-12.