New Budget Reflects Commitment Of Government For Uplift Of Health Sector: Salman Rafique

Advisor on Health Kh. Salman Rafique has said that new provincial budget is development-oriented and no burden of taxes has been put on the people. He said that 43 percent more funds have been allocated for health sector in the new budget compared to last year which reflects the commitment of the government for the uplift of health sector.

Commenting on the budget for year 2016-17, Kh. Salman Rafique said that Punjab is on the road to progress and prosperity under the leadership of Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and development of health, education, agriculture, water supply and infrastructure is priority of the government. He said that development volume of the province is more than 550 billion rupees which is 27 percent higher than last year. He further said that in the sector of primary and secondary health, all district headquarter hospitals and 15 tehsil headquarter hospitals will be revamped in the next fiscal year at a cost of Rs. 5.20 billion. Moreover, the system of drug testing laboratory will be upgraded with the assistance of international organizations. He said that IRMNCH Programme for the improvement of the system of mother and child health will be consolidated with a sum of ten billion rupees. Kh. Salman Rafique further said that better facilities will be provided in hospitals of specialized healthcare. He said that a sum of 24.5 billion rupees will be spent on specialized healthcare and four major hospitals of Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi and Faisalabad will be made model hospitals. He said that up-gradation of DHQ teaching hospitals affiliated with medical colleges will result in increase in their bed capacity by 1500. He said that a target has been fixed for the completion of all development projects including surgical tower in Mayo Hospital. Kh. Salman Rafique further said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, a historic budget has been presented which reflects public aspirations.

Source: Government of the Punjab