LAHORE, Pakistan: The Punjab government has earmarked overall Rs 111.026019 billion for the health sector in the provincial budget 2017-18.
According to the budget documents, the government has proposed 58.4 per cent increase in the health sector as Rs 70.060007 billion had been allocated in the 2016-17 budget.
It is pertinent to mention here the health department has been bifurcated into two separate departments including Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Department and Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department.
The proposed budget will be spent on hospitals, healthcare institutes, laboratories, health administration while a major allocation is allocated for purchasing medicines, repair of machinery and equipment of the both department.
An amount of Rs 20.4126 billion has been allocated in the fiscal year 2017-18 for provision of free medicines while it has been enhanced from Rs 14.741691 billion which was allocated in the fiscal year 2016-17.