Cong’s Aujla criticises Health Minister over poor condition of govt hospitals

Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh faced criticism on Sunday from Congress Lok Sabha member Gurjit Singh Aujla during the launch of the tuberculosis (TB) eradication campaign at the TB hospital in Amritsar. Aujla used the opportunity to highlight the deteriorating condition of government hospitals in the city.

Aujla reminded Balbir that the TB hospital was housed in one of the oldest buildings in the region, constructed during the British era. Despite several letters to the state government, Aujla said no action was taken to renovate the building.

The Congress leader also brought up the growing need for state-of-the-art cancer treatment facilities in the region, noting that the number of cancer cases continues to rise.

He criticised the Government Medical College’s cancer institute, stating that it lacked essential facilities and failed to provide adequate relief to patients and their families.

Aujla further demanded that the government should send a proposal to the central government to establish a health institution similar to AIIMS in the city. He also raised concerns about the poor state of the sewerage system at the Government Medical College.

“The public health system is in such a dire state that agents and touts from private labs and hospitals roam freely on hospital premises, luring patients to seek treatment at their facilities,” Aujla said.

He added that meanwhile, government hospitals struggled with basic shortages, such as X-ray films.