Doctors urge state govt to raise health budget, boost infrastructure

The Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) has strongly opposed the Punjab Government’s recent moves toward privatising the state’s health infrastructure, calling it betrayal of its own promise of a “health revolution”.

In a sharply worded statement, the organisation warned that such steps would severely impact access to healthcare for the poor and working-class families across the state.

Dr Arun Mitra, president of IDPD, and Dr Inderveer Gill, member of the Central Committee, expressed concern over the decision to open new medical colleges in Sangrur and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar under the public private partnership (PPP) model through the Punjab Infrastructure Development Board (PIDB). “Tenders have already been floated, and this signals a shift away from public accountability,” they said.

The doctors raised critical questions: Will fees in these PPP-run colleges match those of government institutions? What safeguards will be in place for scholarships or subsidised education for economically weaker students? And most importantly, will healthcare services under this model remain free and accessible to all?

The IDPD also flagged the PIDB’s operation and management (O&M) model, under which evaluation teams are being sent to government hospitals in Rajpura, Ferozepur, Gurdaspur, Munak and Moga. “If this isn’t the first step toward privatisation, then what is,” the statement asked.

In the post-Covid landscape, the cost of healthcare and medical education has surged, leaving many families unable to afford treatment or pursue careers in medicine. The IDPD questioned whether privatisation would address these systemic issues or further widen the gap in access.

The organisation also drew parallels with national trends, noting that the Central Government has been actively promoting corporate involvement in healthcare. “Punjab appears to be following suit,” the statement read, “but global evidence shows that countries with publicly funded healthcare systems have far better health indicators.”

Instead of outsourcing essential services, the IDPD urged the Punjab Government to increase its health budget and strengthen public infrastructure. “Healthcare is a right, not a commodity,” the doctors emphasised, calling for a renewed commitment to equity, affordability and public welfare.