Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu today said that the Punjab Government was making all-out efforts to provide high-quality healthcare facilities to the people. That is why the target is to start 37 new hospitals in the state by the end of 2020, out of which about 27 have been commissioned. Laying the foundation stone of the building of Community Health Center in the name of former Chief Minister Beant Singh at Doraha today, Mr Sidhu said that the development of health facilities in Punjab has been going on since the formation of Capt. Amarinder Singh led Congress government. He said that this hospital was targeted to be completed in the next 15 months at a cost of Rs. 9 crores. This will benefit a population of over 50,000. Talking about the efforts being made to fill the staff shortage in the government hospitals, he said that the process of filling up 4000 posts has been started to fill this gap.In addition, other ancillary posts will be filled soon. Other temporary employees will also be made permanent. He said that Punjab has been performing very well in dealing with COVID. "Our priority is to save lives," he said. He said that the cooperation of the people was essential for the success of the mission launched by the Punjab government.
Earlier in his address, Mr Lakhbir Singh Lakha MLA of Halqa Payal mentioned the demands of the area. He said that as the city was on the main road, there should be no shortage of health facilities. He thanked the Punjab Government and the Health Minister for giving this hospital to the area. He said that Punjab Finance Minister Mr Manpreet Singh Badal had assured that he would release an amount of Rs. 1 crore for the development of Halqa Payal. He said that this hospital was a 30-year-old demand of the people of the area.He said that this hospital would be a boon for more than 30 villages of Halqa Payal. He also demanded mortuary for the care of dead bodies in Doraha. He said that the duty performed by the Punjab Health Department under your leadership during the COVID has been recognized by the entire country.Apart from the above Mr Gurkirat Singh Kotli MLA of Halqa Khanna, former Minister Mr Malkiat Singh Dakha, Chairman Zilla Parishad Ludhiana Mr Yadvinder Singh Jandiali and others were also present on the occasion.After this, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Mr Balbir Singh Sidhu made a surprise visit to Civil Hospital Ludhiana and reviewed the process of providing health facilities to the people. He issued the necessary directions to the health authorities.