Chandigarh, Sept 9: Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh has urged the Centre to provide an interim relief package of Rs 780 crore to repair the state’s flood-ravaged healthcare system, which he said has suffered massive damage in recent weeks.
Speaking on the sidelines of a fund-raising event in Patiala, where the Rajindra Gymkhana and Mahindra Club handed over a cheque of Rs 11 lakh for flood relief, Singh described the extent of destruction as “crippling” for both rural and urban health services. “The backbone of Punjab’s healthcare has been broken. Not only buildings, but life-saving equipment, essential medicines, and facilities where lakhs of Punjabis seek care have been destroyed,” the minister said.
According to Singh, medicines worth Rs 130 crore were lost, 1,280 dispensaries and health and wellness centres severely damaged, and 101 community health centres along with 31 sub-divisional hospitals impacted. He said the bordering districts of Punjab had been the worst affected, leaving the health network “paralysed at a time when people need it most.”
The minister appealed directly to the Union Health Minister, saying the Centre must step in immediately with financial support. “We welcome the Prime Minister’s visit, but we need more than solidarity. We need substantial support. Punjab urgently requires central assistance of at least Rs 20,000 crore for comprehensive recovery, but as an interim measure, we seek Rs 780 crore to restore medical services in flood-affected areas,” Singh added.
Officials said the state government has already rolled out mobile health camps, veterinary services, food distribution and rehabilitation packages in affected regions. Singh assured that the administration “will leave no stone unturned” in bringing back normalcy, protecting livelihoods, and rebuilding communities with resilience.
Observers noted that Singh’s demand underscores the scale of the devastation, which has not only battered Punjab’s agriculture but also crippled its health infrastructure, raising concerns over long-term public health challenges if adequate support does not arrive quickly.
