Faridkot, Jan 30: Four major healthcare facilities in Punjab have been placed under the direct control of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot, following a decision by the Council of Ministers. The administrative shift is designed to merge these frontline institutions with the university’s medical education and research framework.
The institutions involved in this transition include the Civil Hospital in Badal, Muktsar; the Civil Hospital in Sri Khadur Sahib, Tarn Taran; the Community Health Centre in Jalalabad; and the Tertiary Cancer Care Centre in Fazilka. Under the new arrangement, BFUHS assumes responsibility for all operational costs, including administrative expenses and staff salaries.
“The BFUHS will now cover all expenses for these institutions, including salaries and general administration,” the official notification stated.
While the university gains jurisdiction over the buildings, machinery, and equipment, the current staff will remain under the Department of Health and Family Welfare. These employees are slated for future redeployment to other state locations based on departmental policy to protect their seniority and cadre status. To maintain seamless operations during this transition, the university has been granted the authority to recruit its own medical professionals and support staff.
The government has set specific service standards for the university, requiring that these facilities continue to operate at a capacity equivalent to a 100-bed hospital for the public. Furthermore, the fee structure for patients must remain consistent with existing state government rates.
“The university must ensure that these institutions always maintain health services equivalent to a 100-bed hospital for the general public,” the order noted.
Although the university takes over daily management, the state government will continue to provide the necessary funding for national and state welfare initiatives. Programs such as the Janani Suraksha Yojana and Mata Kaushalya Yojana will remain funded by the state to ensure maternal and neonatal health services are not disrupted.
