The Healthcare system in Punjab is in complete shambles which lies exposed in the CAG report tabled in the Punjab Vidhan Sabha by AAP government’s Finance Minister Harpal Cheema on Tuesday (25th March). It revealed that more than half of the 68,949 sanctioned posts in the Punjab health department were vacant for six years, from 2016 to 2022. Incidentally, the Minister tabled the CAG report, whose scrutiny period ends around the time AAP formed the government in the state. This limits the scope of financial scrutiny to Congress alone, exposing the misgovernance of its I.N.D.I. alliance partner.
As per official statement, the CAG reports are on the management of public health infrastructure and health services from 2016-17 to 2021-22 as well as the annual technical inspection of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and urban local bodies from April 2019 to March 2022. For those unversed, the incumbent Bhagwant Mann led AAP government took charge in March 2022.
The CAG report highlights the performance of the public health infrastructure and management of health services till 2022. As per the CAG report, there was a 50.69% vacancy rate in sanctioned health posts, with the Directorate of Medical Education and Research facing a shortage of around 59.19%. It also exposed the shortage of health institutions, insufficient beds and a lack of essential medicines and equipment. Yet, the Punjab government did not consider it appropriate to spend the entire budget given to the Health Ministry.
The CAG report also noted non availability/shortage of specialist doctors, medical officers, nurses, paramedical staff and other staff against the sanctioned strength in all district hospitals (DHs), community health centres (CHCs) and primary health centres (PHCs). It further revealed that there was skewed distribution of manpower across health care institutions. The report also revealed that the debt of the Punjab government has increased to over 3 lakh crores.
The CAG report also found that the health care services spending was way below the prescribed target. It added, “Out of the allotted budget by the state government, funds ranging from 6.5 per cent to 20.74 per cent were not utilised.” As per the CAG report, the Congress government only spent 3.11% of its total expenditure and 0.68% of GSDP on health services during 2021-22, way below the target of 8% of the budget and 2.50% of GSDP set by the National Health Policy (NHP) 2017.
Similarly, the annual technical inspection report on PRIs and urban local bodies revealed that only 13 out of 29 functions envisioned by the 73rd Amendment Act have been devolved to PRIs. It also highlighted issues in urban local bodies, including a staff shortage ranging from 34 per cent to 44 per cent.
The report stated, “Delays in transferring Central Finance Commission grants resulted in avoidable interest payments by the state government. Moreover, there was significant underutilisation of funds received under various schemes, ranging from 5 per cent to 94 per cent. Staff shortages in PRIs increased from 29 per cent in 2019-20 to 41 per cent in 2021-22.”
Feels like Pakistan: AAP MLA slam government
In the Punjab assembly, the Bhagwant Mann government was at the receiving end of criticism from its own MLAs over various issues including health facilities, a sector which it projects as its forte.
AAP MLA from Dharamkot seat Devinderjeet Singh Laddi Dhos categorically asked the state government if Moga was not part of Punjab.
During question hour, he asked why Moga was given only four doctors in two recruitments while a small district like Malerkotla was given 28 doctors in the recent appointments.
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Dhos fumed, “I want to ask why this discrimination with Moga. Is Moga not part of Punjab. We feel like we are living in Pakistan.” For those unversed, Malerkotla is a Muslim-majority district in Punjab.
