BJP Calls for White Paper on Punjabs Health Budget Amid Staffing Concerns
BJP leaders demand transparency in Punjabs health budget and staffing, highlighting critical shortages in medical personnel.
Chandigarh, November 11 (Daily Kiran) : Punjab’s former BJP president, Vijay Sampla, has raised concerns about the state government’s claims regarding its ‘health revolution.’ On Wednesday, he called for a white paper detailing the health budget, advertising expenditures, and the recruitment process under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s administration.
Sampla criticized the government for its extensive promotion of ‘education revolution’ initiatives, despite 60% of principal positions and 35,000 teacher roles remaining unfilled in the state. He argued that a similar gap exists in the healthcare sector, where the disparity between claims and reality is stark.
In a statement released in Chandigarh, Sampla referenced a report from the Union Ministry of Health titled ‘Health Dynamics of India: 2024-25.’ He noted that none of Punjab’s 84 rural community health centers have the four essential specialist doctors: surgeons, gynecologists, physicians, and pediatricians.
Out of 268 approved specialist positions at these centers, 224—approximately 84%—are vacant, with only 44 specialists currently employed. According to Sampla, among the 67 sanctioned surgeon positions, only 10 are filled; of the 71 gynecologist roles, just 11 are occupied; for 56 physician roles, only 8 are staffed; and among 74 pediatrician positions, only 15 are filled.
He further highlighted a critical shortage of anesthetists, with 26 of the 29 positions needed for emergency surgeries remaining unfilled.
In urban areas, of the 79 community health centers, only three are fully staffed, with 225 out of 346 approved positions vacant. Sampla also pointed out that in sub-district hospitals, only 235 of the 575 sanctioned doctor roles are filled, while just 390 out of 661 specialist positions have been appointed.
In district hospitals, 328 of 570 doctor roles and 533 of 713 specialist positions are currently filled. Sampla stated that the silence of Health Minister Balbir Singh regarding these statistics reflects the government’s failures.
He accused the Aam Aadmi Party government of undermining Punjab’s entire healthcare system under the guise of promoting Mohalla Clinics. The BJP has demanded that the state government outline a timeline for filling all vacant positions for doctors and specialists in community health centers and hospitals.
