Punjab Govt committed to dedicated service & development to realise vision of ‘Rangla Punjab’: Governor Gulab Chand Kataria*

*Extensive healthcare network including 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics providing free medicines and tests has recorded over 4.7 crore OPD visits: Governor Gulab Chand Kataria*

*Punjab Govt expanding healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructure, investment and welfare initiatives across Punjab: Governor Gulab Chand Kataria*

CHANDIGARH, 6th March 2026:

Punjab Governor Gulab Chand Kataria reiterated the firm commitment of the Punjab Government to serve Punjab and its people with utmost dedication and sincerity and said the government is working to take Punjab forward on the path of development for carving out a vibrant and progressive ‘Rangla Punjab’. Addressing the twelfth Budget Session of the 16th Punjab Vidhan Sabha, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria presented a comprehensive account of the initiatives undertaken by the Punjab Government across healthcare, education, agriculture, infrastructure, governance, welfare, industry and public services.

Highlighting the Punjab Government’s efforts to strengthen public healthcare, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria said, “The Punjab Government is committed to build a robust, inclusive and people-centric healthcare system that ensures quality, affordability and accessibility for every citizen by operating an extensive healthcare network comprising 23 District Hospitals, 42 Sub-Divisional Hospitals, 162 Community Health Centres, 523 Primary Health Centres, 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics and 2453 Health and Wellness Centres reflecting the Punjab Government’s strong commitment to universal health coverage.”

He further stated, “881 Aam Aadmi Clinics across Punjab provide 107 medicines and 47 diagnostic tests free of cost and have already recorded over 4.7 crore OPD visits, including 1.55 crore unique patients. In 2025-26, Punjab is set to cross nearly 2 crore primary healthcare OPD visits, thus demonstrating a new, cost-effective, patient-centric primary healthcare model that is being widely recognised. 240 additional Aam Aadmi Clinics will be operational shortly.”

The Governor said, “Pregnancy care services introduced at Aam Aadmi Clinics across Punjab have led to a decline in the Maternal Mortality Ratio from 105 to 90, reflecting the Punjab Government’s sustained focus on safe motherhood. The Punjab Government has also introduced anti-rabies vaccination services at Aam Aadmi Clinics.”

Emphasising the strengthening of the healthcare workforce, the Governor said, “The Punjab Government has undertaken the largest-ever recruitment of doctors in its history. Since 2022, the Punjab Government has recruited a total of 934 doctors for government hospitals, accounting for nearly 25 percent of the total doctors currently serving in Punjab.”

He added, “The Punjab Government has initiated the recruitment and empanelment of nearly 400 specialist doctors, representing the largest specialist expansion. Recruitment of nearly 400 nursing personnel is almost complete, while an additional 500 positions are currently in the pipeline.”

Highlighting universal health coverage, Governor noted, “The Punjab Government has launched Universal Health Coverage ensuring 100 percent coverage of the entire population of Punjab under the ‘Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana’. The scheme will provide cashless health cover of up to ₹10 lakh per family per year for 2356 medical and surgical procedures through a wide network of Government and empanelled private hospitals which are approximately 900 in number in Punjab and Chandigarh.”

He added, “Under this scheme every Punjabi shall get a Sehat Card to facilitate the easy cashless insurance claim processing.”

Speaking about road safety and emergency response, the Governor said, “The Punjab Government has launched the ‘Farishtey’ and the ‘Sadak Surakhya Force’ aimed at ensuring timely assistance to road accident victims. The Farishtey Scheme provides immediate cashless treatment to accident victims and incentivises Good Samaritans with ₹2,000 along with a certificate for helping injured persons reach hospitals. This initiative has already enabled timely assistance to more than 600 road accident victims.”

Highlighting tertiary healthcare development, he noted, “The Punjab Government has taken a landmark initiative of strengthening advanced tertiary healthcare by operationalising the Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences. With the successful conduct of the first liver transplant in December 2025, liver transplant services have formally commenced under the public health system.”

He further said, “Punjab is going to set a new milestone by planning to commence kidney transplant services from May 2026 onwards at Government Medical College Patiala and Government Medical College Amritsar.”

Governor Gulab Chand Kataria said, “‘CM Di Yogshala’ is a flagship wellness initiative currently holding 5000 supervised classes daily in different cities in all districts involving about 1.5 lakh individuals.”

Addressing the issue of drug abuse, the Governor stated, “The Punjab Government has launched the ‘Yudh Nashean Virudh’ campaign as a comprehensive and determined effort to combat drug abuse and trafficking across Punjab.”

He further said, “Under this campaign to provide accessible and effective de-addiction services a total of 548 Opioid Assisted Treatment clinics are operational across Punjab to provide treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. In addition, 36 Government and 177 private de-addiction centres along with 19 Government and 74 private rehabilitation centres are functioning to support treatment and long-term recovery. De-addiction services have also been extended to 19 jails ensuring continuity of care for incarcerated individuals.”

He added, “Since the launch of these interventions, over 10.63 lakh patients have been registered and provided treatment through the de-addiction and rehabilitation network.”

Highlighting support for cancer patients, the Governor stated, “Punjab is the first state in the country to provide cashless cancer treatment under the Mukh Mantri Punjab Cancer Rahat Kosh Scheme. So far assistance amounting to over ₹957 crore has been provided to more than 74,000 cancer patients.”

Speaking about disaster response, he said, “During the recent floods, extensive medical camps and special public health campaigns were conducted in affected areas including fogging, door-to-door outreach by ASHAs and distribution of medicine kits. Through health camps across more than 2,300 villages, over 8 lakh patients were examined ensuring timely healthcare and disease prevention during the crisis.”

Highlighting education reforms, Governor Gulab Chand Kataria asserted, “Under Punjab Sikhya Kranti the Punjab Government has recruited a total of 13,765 teachers since April 2022.”

He added, “Seven batches of 234 Principals and Education Officers were sent for a five day Leadership Development Programme to Singapore, four batches of 199 Headmasters were sent to IIM Ahmedabad and two batches of 144 Primary Cadre Teachers were sent to Turku in Finland.”

He further said, “Punjab has emerged as a top performing state in PARAKH Rashtriya Sarvekshan 2024 and around ₹160 crore have been allocated for safety and cleanliness in schools. A total of 118 government schools are being transformed as state-of-the-art Schools of Eminence.”

Speaking about irrigation and agriculture, the Governor noted, “To make canal water available to all farmers the Punjab Government has planned to construct a total of 3,443 kilometres of new water courses and underground pipelines with an investment of approximately ₹787 crore. Till date 2,650 kilometres of this work has already been completed.”

He added, “The Punjab Government has carried out 2,600 kilometres of canal lining works amounting to ₹4,557 crore. It has resulted in canal water reaching about 1,365 locations for the first time, with 465 locations having received water in 2025. The long pending project of relining of Sirhind Feeder Canal has been completed.”