Health projects worth Rs 2,256 crore to be inaugurated by Aug: Arti Rao
The Haryana Government is set to boost the state’s healthcare infrastructure with health projects worth Rs 2,256 crore scheduled to be inaugurated across all districts by next month, Health and Family Welfare Minister Arti Singh Rao announced today.
Addressing a press conference in Panchkula, the minister outlined an ambitious plan to upgrade 785 medical facilities, including Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), Sub-Health Centres, and Civil Hospitals.
“Administrative approval has been granted for 534 facilities. For the rest, approvals are in process. We are holding regular coordination meetings with the PWD to fast-track construction and renovation,” Rao said.
In addition to inaugurating the approved projects, Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini will also lay the foundation stones of health projects worth another Rs 594 crore.
The Health Department has hired 720 new doctors, with efforts underway to fill remaining hospital vacancies. The minister said the number of First Referral Units (FRUs) — critical for maternal and newborn care — has more than doubled in the past decade.
“We had only 41 FRUs in 2014. Today we have 87. More such units with specialist services are in the pipeline,” she added.
Rao highlighted the success of Ujjwal Drishti Haryana Abhiyan, a state-level eye health initiative launched this month. Over 1.4 lakh free spectacles have already been distributed to schoolchildren and elderly citizens.
“Eye examinations are underway for nearly 21 lakh students across 14,267 government schools. About 40,000 students diagnosed with visual impairments will receive eyeglasses free of cost,” she said.
The minister noted a sharp rise in MBBS and postgraduate medical seats since 2014.
MBBS seats have increased from 700 in 2014 to 2,185, and will cross 2,485 by the end of this year with the opening of new medical colleges in Bhiwani and Charkhi Dadri.
PG (MD/MS) seats have grown from 289 to 874 in the same period.
Six government nursing colleges are under construction; the Rewari campus is already operational and others are over 90% complete.
Rao also announced that Shri Krishna AYUSH University will be established on 100 acres in Fatehpur village, Kurukshetra in FY 2025–26. The university will offer 63 BAMS, 82 PG and 63 Diploma in Pharmacy seats.
Additinally, Ayush Herbal Parks are coming up in Rewari and Jind.
A government homoeopathic college is proposed in Chandpura village, Ambala. A 25-bed homoeopathic hospital is already operational at Rampur-Sarsehdi Community Centre.
When asked about the state’s sex ratio, the minister attributed improvements to strict enforcement and reverse tracking of suspected illegal abortions.
“We have banned over-the-counter sale of MTP pills and are closely tracking violations. This has led to a positive shift in the sex ratio over the past 2-3 years,” she added.
Haryana Tribune