Budget 2024-25: Punjab raises health budget by 24p

The Punjab government has earmarked Rs539.1bn for the health sector for the financial year 2024-25 with a 24pc increase compared to the last budget. A major chunk of the total budget – Rs55bn – has been allocated for provision of free medicines to the poor and deserving patients in the outpatient departments (OPDs) of the public hospitals and Rs54bn for the Universal Health Coverage under the health insurance programme in the province. Of Rs539.1bn, Rs410.5bn has been proposed for the non-development with 15pc increase and Rs128.6bn for the health sector development schemes, making an increase of 15pc than the previous annual budget. The government has allocated Rs42.6bn under the head of development schemes for the primary and secondary healthcare sector, 54pc more than the last budgetary allocations.