Luxury trumps health

THE reprimand by the Punjab and Haryana High Court has exposed glaring mismanagement in the Punjab Government’s financial priorities, especially its indulgence in luxury spending while healthcare obligations remain unmet. Despite receiving Rs 350 crore from the Union Government under the Ayushman Bharat Scheme, the state has failed to release these funds to hospitals, which means it owes medical institutions Rs 500 crore. The state has been unpardonably negligent about public health despite hospitals across Punjab struggling to provide adequate care to patients due to financial constraints.

The court’s move to withhold the salaries of senior health officials is a significant step toward accountability. However, the deeper issue lies in the state’s apparent disregard for essential services like healthcare, which has been exacerbated by its allocation of resources toward non-essential expenditures such as new cars for politicians, office renovations and costly media advertising. The fact that funds intended to support critical healthcare services have been diverted for lavish expenditures on luxuries not only exposes poor governance but also raises concerns about the administration’s commitment to public welfare.

Punjab’s financial troubles are compounded by its massive fiscal deficit, which has already put a strain on essential public services. The state’s misallocation of funds signals a broader issue of governance failure. Reports have pointed out that while politicians and bureaucrats benefit from these lavish outlays, hospitals and healthcare providers are left battling mounting debts and underfunding, directly impacting patient care and public health outcomes. The HC’s demand for transparency regarding government spending is a step in the right direction. The state government must prioritise healthcare and social welfare programmes over luxuries.