Rs500.62bn set aside for health sector in Punjab budget

LAHORE: The Punjab government has allocated Rs 500.62 billion for the health sector in its fiscal year budget 2026-27.

Out of this budgetary allocation, Rs 424.32 billion are earmarked for non-developmental expenditures while an amount of Rs 76.3 billion is set aside for ADP under the health sector. The budgetary allocations for health sector constitute 10-percent of total budget. For ADP schemes for 2026-27, Rs43.10 billion allocated for specialized healthcare and medical education department while Rs 33.20 billion earmarked for health and population.

In the next year budget, sufficient funds are directed towards revamping public sector hospitals and upgrading healthcare infrastructure. In the current year, modern hospitals, cardiology and cancer treatment centres, up-gradation of basic health units, emergency and dialysis health facilities and mental health services were successfully completed,

As per budget document, in the next year budget Rs 20 billion allocated for Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research, Rs 28.94 billion for Jinnah Institute of Cardiology Lahore and Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology Sargodha, Rs 2.45 billion for Punjab Institute of Mental Health, and Rs 5 billion set aside for upgradation of Emergency and Outdoor blocks of Nishter Hospital Multan.

Likewise, Rs 9.30 billion has been earmarked for establishment of 16 Cardiac Surgery Units, Rs 8.31 billion for installation of MRI machines and other facilities like CT Scan, Cath Labs in 29 teaching hospitals and Rs 5 billion set aside for extension in Emergency Services across Punjab.

For the first time in the province history, Neuro Cath Labs under Stroke Initiative are being started for which Rs 1.75 billion have been proposed in the budget.

Moreover, Rs 15.21 billion have been earmarked for D.G. Khan Cancer Hospital while for Children Hospital Bahawalpur, Rs 23.37 billion have been allocated.

Following are the major achievements during FY 2025-26:

Jinnah Institute of Cardiology (JIC), Lahore (PKR 8.84 billion); Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology (NSIC), Sargodha (PKR 8.56 billion); Specialized Medical Equipment for JIC Lahore (PKR 7.701 billion); Specialized Medical Equipment for NSIC Sargodha (PKR 3.84 billion); Installation of Cath Labs in Major Tertiary Care Hospitals (PKR 786 million) for procurement and installation of Cath Labs; Emergency Services Expansion; Human Resource Development, recruitment of 2,011 Rescue EMT interns; Fleet Enhancement (138 Ambulances, 22 Fire vehicles, 9 ultra high-pressure vehicles); Infrastructure Strengthening (35 new Rescue stations); Program for Revamping of BHUs in North and Central Punjab (Phase-II) (PKR 9,594.422 million); Establishment of Cath Labs at Selected DHQs and Development of Allied Facilities in Existing Buildings (PKR 2,090.264 million); Procurement of Ambulances for Referral Services (PKR 1,319 million); Establishment of a New 125-Bedded DHQ Hospital in Chiniot (PKR 977.515 million); Establishment of Thalassemia Centres at Divisional Level (PKR 698.273 million) 2,508 Maryam Nawaz Health Clinics (MNHCs)/BHUs and 115 Maryam Nawaz Hospitals (MNHs)/Rural Health Centres (RHCs).

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026