*CM Bhagwant Singh Mann orders immediate release of funds worth ₹68.98 crore to upgrade premier medical colleges of Punjab*

*Punjab Govt to equip medical colleges with hi-end, world-class machinery to provide quality treatment & improved diagnostics: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann*

*Punjab to emerge as global hub of medical education with major investment in medical college infrastructure: CM Bhagwant Singh Mann*

CHANDIGARH, 23rd December 2025:In order to provide quality treatment and diagnostic facilities to the people in the Medical Colleges, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann has ordered immediate release of funds worth ₹68.98 crore to give a facelift to premier Medical Colleges of the state.

Chairing a review meeting of the Medical Education and Research Department here today, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Augmenting the facilities in these Medical colleges of the state was the need of the hour to ensure quality treatment and diagnostic facilities to the people. To equip these Medical colleges with hi-end and world class machinery is imperative so that they can serve the patients in a better manner.”

The Chief Minister asked the Medical Education department to immediately issue ₹68.98 crore to the four medical colleges in the state to upgrade the facilities.

He further said that ₹26.53 crore should be promptly issued to Government Medical College Amritsar, ₹28.51 crore to Government Medical College Patiala, ₹9.43 crore to Dr BR Ambedkar Institute of Medical Sciences SAS Nagar (Mohali) and ₹4.51 crore to PGI Satellite Centre, Ferozepur. “These funds should be duly utilised for development works in the Medical Colleges along with procuring latest machinery and equipment in the larger public interest,” noted the Chief Minister.

CM Bhagwant Singh Mann reiterated the firm commitment of his government to emerge the state as a hub of ‘Medical Education’ across the globe adding that this will give further boost to treatment and diagnostic facilities.

The Chief Minister batted that these works in the medical colleges should be completed in a time bound and prompt manner so that better health facilities are made available to the people at affordable rates. “Punjab has a glorious legacy of producing world class Doctors across the globe and even today a large number of students pursue the medical education to become qualified doctors. The Punjab government is duty bound to provide quality medical education in these medical colleges so that students pursuing medical education are immensely benefited,” he asserted.

The Chief Minister said that the sole aim of giving facelift to these medical colleges is to ensure that people are able to get quality health services in these colleges and hospitals. “This will go a long way in ensuring the well being of the common people by ensuring quality medical facilities in these premier colleges. The Punjab government is committed to this noble cause and no stone will be left unturned for this noble cause,” he affirmed.

On the occasion Chief Secretary KAP Sinha, Additional Chief Secretary Alok Shekhar, Principal Secretary Health Kumar Rahul, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Dr Ravi Bhagat and others were also present.

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PUNJAB TO EXPAND TECH-DRIVEN MATERNAL CARE, SETS TARGET TO REDUCE MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE

— Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh addresses a state-level workshop on ‘Tech Interventions for Maternal Mortality Reduction’

— Announces Statewide Scale-Up of Life-Saving Interventions to Curb Maternal Deaths

CHANDIGARH, December 23:In a significant step to bolster women's healthcare as per the commitment of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Tuesday announced the statewide expansion of proven technology-based interventions at government health facilities to reduce the Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) in the state.

Addressing a state-level workshop on ‘Tech Interventions for Maternal Mortality Reduction’ organised under Mission Tandrust Punjab, supported by Directorate of Environment & Climate Change, the health minister said the state would adopt every proven technological solution to curb maternal deaths, particularly those caused by post-partum haemorrhage (PPH). Punjab currently records an MMR of 95 per one lakh live births, compared to the national average of 88.

“I urge all medical officers to adopt best clinical practices so that Punjab can achieve the Sustainable Development Goal target of reducing MMR to 70,” said Dr Balbir Singh, while emphasising healthcare professionals and program officers to work together. He further stressed that nutritional guidance for pregnant women as well their health monitoring should be prioritised at an early stage.

The workshop was organised by the Punjab State Council for Science and Technology (PSCST) in collaboration with AIIMS Bathinda and the Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab, at Chandigarh. Er Pritpal Singh, Executive Director (PSCST) highlighted that pilot implementation of Non-Pneumatic Anti-Shock Garments (NASG) and Uterine Balloon Tamponade (UBT) at delivery points of 12 districts of Punjab in Phase I and II has helped save more than 300 mothers suffering from critical PPH conditions, underscoring the need for scaling up these interventions across the state.

Director Health Services (Family Welfare) Punjab, Dr Aditi Salaria stressed early identification of danger signs, standardised referral protocols and timely intervention. She emphasized healthcare professionals especially gynaecologists and ANMs to take this initiative further in focused manner.

The Project Leaders, Dr Lajya Devi Goyal, Dean Research (AIIMS Bathinda) and Dr Dapinder Kaur Bakshi, Joint Director (PSCST) shared insights on district-level implementation, availability of life-saving devices at delivery points and hands-on training of healthcare workers, which led to a marked reduction in maternal complications.

During the workshop, Dr Parneet Kaur, Professor (GMC Patiala) and Dr Parveen Rajora, Professor (GMC Faridkot) shared their experiences on clinical outcomes and field-level experiences in their respective districts. Further, the experts provided hands-on training on NASG and UBT to the health professionals present in the Workshop.

Other dignitaries include Dr. Jaswinder Singh, Civil Surgeon (Patiala) and Dr. Harpreet Kaur, Assistant Director (DHF&W). The workshop witnessed participation of doctors, gynaecologists, nurses and health officials from all 23 districts of Punjab.

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