PGI gets Rs 1,500 cr, had sought more

Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, February 1

The PGI’s ambitious projects of constructing a mother and child care centre and a neuroscience centre will get a boost this year as the premier institute has got Rs 1,500 crore in the Budget for 2019-20.

The PGI had sought Rs 1,900 crore. The PGI Director, Prof Jagat Ram, said, “If there is a need for additional funds, we will get these like last year. Besides, we also earn an additional Rs 150 crore from our internal resources.”

Last year, the PGI had got Rs 1,207.98 crore in the Budget and additional funds of Rs 267 crore later. A part of the Budget will be spent on ongoing projects, including a 250-bed hospital and the Sangrur satellite centre.

Rs 75.31 cr for health

The upgrade of the 50-bed community health centre to a 250-bed hospital and strengthening of the 50-bed polyclinic in the city are among the projects related to the health services for which Rs 75.31 crore has been approved for 2019-20. Last year, the amount was Rs 80 crore.

Strengthening of rural and urban subsidiary health centers, the Employees’ State Insurance Scheme, AYUSH, homoeopathy and ayurveda, construction of a regional trauma centre, a mental health institute and a government rehabilitation institute for intellectual disabilities are among the other projects on which the Budget will be utilised.

PGI’s share over yrs
2019-20 Rs 1,500 cr
2018-19 Rs 1,474.98 cr
2017-18 Rs 1,172.36 cr

Health services
2019-20 Rs 75.31 cr
2018-19 Rs 80.93 cr
2017-18 Rs 57.91 cr