The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) stated that the Bhagwant Mann-led administration has significantly strengthened the state’s healthcare system through multiple initiatives. As part of this effort, PET scan facilities for advanced cancer diagnosis have been introduced in key cities including Amritsar, Faridkot, Mohali, and Patiala. Additionally, more than 200 private diagnostic centres have been empanelled to provide free X-ray and ultrasound services, with a particular focus on improving access for women. The government has also announced plans to roll out CT scan facilities in eight additional government hospitals in the near future.
On the workforce front, the state reported a record-breaking recruitment drive. Over the last four years, approximately 35 percent of Punjab’s total government doctor workforce has been added. This includes the appointment of 948 general physicians and 627 specialist doctors. Alongside this, 300 nursing staff members and 250 pharmacists have been recruited, while the hiring process for 2,000 more nurses is currently in progress, further strengthening the healthcare delivery system.
In a parallel development, Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh announced the establishment of a new government medical college in Kapurthala. The institution, named Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji State Institute of Medical Sciences, will be constructed within the premises of the existing district hospital. All preliminary procedures, including tendering, have been completed, and construction is set to begin on March 25, with a projected completion timeline of 24 months, targeting March 2028.
The project, with an estimated cost of ₹275 crore, will feature a 300-bed hospital and a medical college offering 100 MBBS seats annually. It is expected to enhance access to affordable medical education within the state, reducing the need for students to pursue costly studies abroad.
Once operational, the institute will provide both secondary and tertiary healthcare services and is projected to generate employment for over 1,000 individuals directly, along with creating additional indirect job opportunities. As part of the broader development plan, the government hospital in Sultanpur Lodhi will be upgraded into an urban healthcare centre, while the Begowal government hospital will be developed as a rural centre, both linked to the new medical college.
Spanning more than five lakh square feet, the upcoming institute will include six major operation theatres, a 500-seat auditorium, MRI and CT scan facilities, a central laboratory, a blood bank, and modern academic infrastructure such as skill labs and medical museums.
Earlier in the same month, the state had also announced the Shaheed Udham Singh State Institute of Medical Sciences in Hoshiarpur, making the Kapurthala facility the second major medical education project unveiled in March, reflecting a broader push to enhance healthcare capacity and infrastructure across Punjab.
