Punjab government to increase budget for health, education sectors

The Punjab government is all set to increase budget for health and education sectors in the budget 2011-12 in a bid to improve standard of education and health sectors in the province. The Punjab government allocated Rs 12,025 million for the health sector in the provincial budget 2009-10, increasing 30 percent against the year 2008-09.
The allocation of health budget for 2011-12 is expected to be around 15,025 million, sources told Business Recorder, here on Tuesday. Sources further said that health was one of the top priorities of the Punjab government and all resources were being utilised in this regard. The Punjab government would bring more mobile health units in the year 2011-12 to provide medical facilities to people at their doorsteps. In the year 2011-12, the government would also establish new Rural Health Centres (RHCs), upgrade District and Tehsil level hospitals, bring mobile health units and construct new emergency blocks in DHQ hospitals.
It may be noted that the Chief Minister Punjab had accorded approval to pay package of Rs 5.2 billion for young doctors and paramedic associations by accepting the recommendations of Cabinet Committee. Under this package, there has been of Rs 6,000 increase in the stipend of house officer from Rs 18,000 to Rs 24,000. An increase of Rs 22500/- was approved in the stipend of post graduate students and their stipend will be increased from Rs 22,000/- to Rs 42,000/-. An increase of Rs 15000/- has been made in the salaries of medical officers and dental surgeons of grade 17 and Rs 3370/- per month will be given to them as pay protection. An increase of Rs 10,000/- has been made in the salaries of doctors serving in grade 18, 19 and 20. An expenditure of Rs 376 million will be incurred on the promotion of paramedic staff under four tier formula, while Rs 239 million will be incurred on pay protection of nurses.
Regarding promotion of education sector, sources said that the government was paying special attention to the improvement of primary education, which has a fundamental importance in education sector. Maximum resources were being utilised for the improvement of education sector at primary level, training of teachers, provision of basic facilities in schools and achievement of the target of hundred percent student enrolments at primary level, the sources added.