Chandigarh: Terming it as a historic Diwali gift from Chief Minister Punjab Bhagwant Singh Mann to the people of the state, particularly the Doaba region, Punjab Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education & Research Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Thursday announced that the Punjab Government has fulfilled another major promise by issuing the Letter of Intent (LoI) for establishing a state-of-the-art Medical College and Teaching Hospital at Shaheed Bhagat Singh (SBS) Nagar.
Dr Balbir Singh stated that the project involves an investment of approximately ₹160 crore, under which the existing 150-bed District Hospital at Nawanshahr will be substantially upgraded into a full-fledged, National Medical Commission (NMC)-compliant 220-bed teaching hospital along with dedicated academic and residential infrastructure. The complex will also house an advanced 30-bed Super-Specialty Cardiac Care Unit equipped with interventional cardiology facilities, including a Catheterisation Laboratory (Cath Lab) for angiography and angioplasty.
The Health Minister said that out of the 50 annual MBBS seats, 50% will be strictly reserved under the Punjab Government quota, enabling bright local youth to pursue medical education affordably close to home.
Reiterating that healthcare accessibility for the common man remains uncompromisingly protected, Dr Balbir Singh said, “The OPD slip fee will continue to be just ₹10, same as in any government hospital. Needy and eligible beneficiaries will receive 100% cashless, free treatment under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY) and AB-PMJAY. Essential medicines will be provided completely free of cost through the government pharmacy, while CT scan, MRI, and other diagnostic tests will be offered at highly subsidised rates.”
