Maximum funds allocated for health sector in budget

Reacting to budgetary allocations for health sector in the Punjab budget of 2011-12, Parliamentary Secretary Health Dr Saeed Elahi has said that for the first time in the history of the province, maximum funds have been allocated for this sector, as overall health sector budget has increased to 48.80 billion which is 14 percent more, as compared to budgetary allocations made in financial year 2010-11.
Narrating details of the funds allocated for health sector in the budget, Dr Saeed Elahi said that mobile health units are being purchased for providing modern health facilities to the people of far-flung areas at their doorstep for which Rs 700 million have been allocated. A sum of Rs 5.2 billion has been set aside for special pay package of doctors and nurses, Rs 23.44 billion for provision of services in the hospitals, Rs 1.92 billion for administrative expenses, Rs 120 million for public health services and Rs 647 million have been earmarked for chemical examiner and drug testing laboratories.
Dr Saeed Elahi said that a 410-bed hospital would be constructed in Bahawalpur and an amount of Rs 500 million has been allocated for it. In addition, two trauma centres, one near Lahore and the other at Bhera Interchange on motorway would be established for which Rs 132 million have been allocated. He further said that four medical colleges would be established in the province. The buildings of these colleges would be completed in the next financial year for which Rs 1.2 billion have been allocated, he added.
Similarly, a sum of Rs one billion for completing Cardiology Institute Rawalpindi, Rs 303 million for establishing Institute of Urology, Rs 150 million for expansion of Multan Institute of Cardiology, Rs 134 million for increasing 200 beds in Children Hospital Multan, Rs 100 million for setting up Fatima Jinnah Dental Institute in Lahore and Rs 205 million have been allocated for setting up burn unit in Lahore, Multan and Faisalabad. Dr Saeed Elahi said that an institute of breast diseases for women would be established in Rawalpindi and funds have been earmarked in the next financial budget for providing treatment facilities to the hepatitis patients.