Punjab borrows leaf from Delhi book for Mohalla clinics, accident victims

The state government has allocated ₹4,731 crore for the health sector - an increase of 23.80% compared to FY 2021-2022.

The Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government on Monday announced free treatment for road accident victims as a part of its budget. Taking a leaf from Delhi government book, a ‘Farishtey’ scheme will be rolled out in Punjab under which a victim of a road accident can be admitted to any hospital. The injured person will be given a free-of-cost treatment, and the entire cost will be borne by the Mann-led dispensation, the Bhagwant Mann government announced on Monday in its first budget.

Punjab finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema presenting the first budget of the Aam Aadmi Party government in the state as chief minister Bhagwant Mann looks on in the assembly on Monday. (Ravi Kumar/HT)

Stating that “casualties in road accidents due to the dearth of timely medical help is a remorseful experience", state's finance minister Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The sufferers of road accidents will be given free treatment and the entire cost would be borne by the government of Punjab.” He added that the AAP government is “extremely sensitive” to the cause and would try to make sure that “anyone who suffers from a road accident is saved.”

Mohalla clinics, which provide affordable treatment, will be set up across the state. The AAP government in Delhi has often given example of its Mohalla clinics while listing its achievements.

Meanwhile, Cheema tabled the first budget of the state's AAP government on Monday, three months after the AAP won with a whopping victory in the assembly elections. The state finance minister began by talking of the government's anti-corruption drive.

The state government has allocated ₹4,731 crore for the health sector - an increase of 23.80% compared to FY 2021-2022. ₹1,033 crore has been allocated for medical education which is an increase of 56.60% as compared to FY 2021-22.

The Mohalla - which will be also called Pind clinics - aim to decentralise the public health services to the lowest level. The state government has promised to set up 16 medical colleges in the state in the next five years. Further, it will also set up two super-specialty hospitals - one at Patiala and another one at Faridkot in the coming two years.