normalnormalnormalHaryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Thursday said that Swasth Haryana is the foundation of Viksit Haryana, emphasising that strengthening public healthcare remains a top priority of the State Government. He said that the Government is consistently undertaking focused and result-oriented measures to expand and modernise healthcare infrastructure and services across the State.The Chief Minister informed that in the current financial year, a provision of approximately Rs. 14,000 crore has been made for the health sector, registering an increase of 32.89 percent over the previous year. He said this reflects the Government’s firm commitment to ensuring accessible, affordable and quality healthcare for all citizens. He further shared that the State’s health budget has increased from Rs. 2,646 crore in 2014 to Rs. 10,500 crore in 2025–26, marking a rise of nearly 298 percent.Nayab Singh Saini said this while addressing a two-day National Conference on best and replicable practices in the health sector, organised in Chandigarh. Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda, graced the occasion as the Chief Guest.Describing the conference as a significant milestone, the Chief Minister said it would contribute meaningfully towards shaping the future of India’s public health system. He said that best practices and innovative initiatives from across the country are being deliberated upon during the two-day event. He expressed confidence that the conference would serve as an effective platform for knowledge-sharing and dissemination of successful healthcare models.Highlighting key initiatives of the State Government, Nayab Singh Saini said that the Care Companion Programme has been launched to train attendants of patients. Under this initiative, attendants have been trained at 188 centres and linked through a WhatsApp-based Mobile Care Service. He further shared that under the digital health initiative e-Sanjeevani, Ayushman Arogya Mandirs are facilitating more than 2,200 tele-consultations daily, enabling rural patients to directly consult specialists from premier institutions such as PGI, Chandigarh.The Chief Minister said that digital platforms such as U-WIN and eVIN have enabled end-to-end digitisation of vaccination and vaccine supply chain management, ensuring and sustaining full immunisation coverage.Medical Education Expanded; MBBS Seats Increased from 700 to 2,710The Chief Minister said that in order to address the shortage of doctors and healthcare personnel, the State Government has resolved to establish at least one medical college in every district. He informed that the number of medical colleges in Haryana has increased from 6 in 2014 to 17 at present, while MBBS seats have risen from 700 to 2,710. He added that significant expansion has also been undertaken in nursing, physiotherapy and paramedical education.He further shared that the Government has laid equal emphasis on improving the quality of healthcare institutions. As many as 1,479 health facilities in the State have been certified under the National Quality Assurance Standards. The objective, he said, is to ensure the availability of world-class healthcare services within close proximity to every citizen.In the area of maternal and child healthcare, the Chief Minister said that Haryana has made notable progress. Modern Maternal and Child Health Wings are being established in all district hospitals. Institutional deliveries in the State have reached 98.80 percent, contributing to a substantial decline in maternal and infant mortality rates. He further informed that full immunisation coverage has reached 105 percent.‘Nirogi Haryana’ Initiative: 1 Crore Citizens Screened; Over 5.86 Crore Free Tests ConductedThe Chief Minister said that under the Nirogi Haryana initiative, health screening is being ensured for every citizen. Nearly 1 crore citizens belonging to Antyodaya families have been screened so far, and more than 5.86 crore laboratory tests have been conducted free of cost, enabling early detection and timely treatment of diseases. To strengthen emergency response systems, the State has established a network of 550 ambulances integrated with Dial-112. He stated that ambulances are reaching the site within 9 to 10 minutes of receiving emergency calls.The Chief Minister further informed that efforts are underway to ensure the availability of CT scan and MRI services across all districts. At present, CT scan services are available in 18 district civil hospitals, while MRI facilities are operational in 7 district hospitals. Free haemodialysis services are currently available in 22 civil hospitals and will be extended to 18 additional healthcare institutions. He added that Cath Labs and Cardiac Care Units are operational at four centres and will be expanded to six more institutions.The Chief Minister said that to provide financial protection in healthcare, the State Government is implementing the Ayushman-Chirayu Scheme. He informed that families with an annual income of up to Rs. 3 lakh are covered under the scheme, enabling more than half of the State’s population to avail free treatment up to Rs. 5 lakh per annum.He further shared that Day Care Cancer Centres have been established at the district level, where patients are being provided free treatment. In addition, cancer patients are being extended free travel facilities and financial assistance.The Chief Minister emphasised that healthcare cannot be considered adequate if it is limited to treatment alone. He said that true healthcare lies in prevention of diseases, and called upon healthcare professionals to actively participate in public awareness campaigns. He added that greater awareness among citizens will significantly reduce the disease burden. To promote preventive healthcare, the State Government has established yoga and exercise centres in villages and is actively promoting a sports culture across Haryana.Calling for collective efforts, Nayab Singh Saini urged all stakeholders to work together towards building an India where every citizen is healthy, every family is secure and every State continues to progress, thereby realising the vision of “Swasth Bharat, Sashakt Bharat.”Haryana Health Minister Arti Singh Rao, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Dr. Sumita Misra, and senior officers from the Central Government and various States were also present on the occasion.Haryana has made significant progress in the field of maternal and child health: Arti Singh RaoInstitutional deliveries in the state have reached 98.8%Health Minister Arti Singh Rao said that Haryana has made significant progress in the field of maternal and child health. Institutional deliveries in the state have reached 98.8 percent, while the maternal mortality rate and infant mortality rate are also continuously declining.The Health Minister was addressing the inaugural session of the national conference on the theme “Innovation and Inclusion – Best Practices Shaping India’s Health Future,” organized by the National Health Mission and Health Department, Haryana, in Chandigarh today.On this occasion, Union Health Minister Sh. Jagat Prakash Nadda, Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, Additional Chief Secretary, Health Department, Dr. Sumita Misra, along with senior officials from the Central Government and various states, were also present.Arti Singh Rao expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Sh. Jagat Prakash Nadda for providing major hospitals like AIIMS to Haryana. She said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Sh. Nayab Singh Saini, the Haryana Government is fully committed to providing accessible, affordable, and quality healthcare services to every citizen. Over the past years, the government has strengthened the health system through continuous improvements in infrastructure, human resources, medical equipment, and essential medicines. Today, healthcare services are being delivered through a wide network of district hospitals, sub-divisional hospitals, community health centres, primary health centres, and sub-health centres across the state.She informed that investment in the health sector has also seen remarkable growth, increasing from Rs. 2,646 crore in 2014-15 to Rs. 14,000 crore in 2026-27. This investment reflects the unwavering commitment of the state government towards building a strong and resilient healthcare system.The Health Minister said that in the fight against non-communicable diseases, the state government has implemented large-scale screening programmes under which more than one crore people have been screened. Among them, over 10 lakh hypertension patients and nearly 6 lakh diabetes patients are receiving timely treatment.She further stated that the Care Companion Programme (CCP) has been integrated with the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NP-NCD). A tertiary-level cancer care institution, ‘Atal Cancer Care Centre (ACCC),’ has been established at the Sub-Divisional Civil Hospital, Ambala Cantonment. To strengthen cancer treatment facilities in district civil hospitals, Day Care Cancer Centres (DCCC) have been established in all districts.Arti Singh Rao thanked Prime Minister Sh. Narendra Modi for initiating vaccination for the prevention of cervical cancer among adolescent girls and said that the Haryana Government is also working rapidly on this programme.She said that emergency and critical care services are also being strengthened in the state. Stroke units, cardiac centres, and improved ICU facilities have already been started in several districts. Under the TB elimination programme, lakhs of people have been screened, and financial assistance has also been increased to ensure better treatment for patients.She informed that through initiatives like ‘Nirogi Haryana,’ comprehensive health check-ups of nearly one crore beneficiaries have been conducted, enabling early detection and timely treatment of diseases. Government efforts have also yielded positive results in controlling vector-borne diseases, improving immunization coverage, and strengthening the emergency response system through prompt ambulance services.She said that healthcare is not limited to treatment alone—it is also linked with prevention, awareness, and equity. The objective of the state government is to build a healthy Haryana where every citizen, irrespective of social or economic status, has access to quality healthcare services.Haryana Government Appoints Link Officers to Ensure Smooth Functioning of Official WorkThe Haryana Government has appointed Link Officers for the post of Resident Commissioner, Haryana Bhawan, New Delhi to ensure uninterrupted functioning of official work in cases of vacancy arising due to transfer, retirement, or during the leave, training, tour, or election duty.According to the order issued by Chief Secretary Sh. Anurag Rastogi, for the post of Resident Commissioner, the CEO, GMDA, Gurugram has been designated as Link Officer-I, the Commissioner, Gurugram Division, Gurugram has been designated as Link Officer-II, and the Commissioner, Faridabad Division, Faridabad has been designated as Link Officer-III.The order further states that the concerned officer shall be duty-bound to inform the designated Link Officers before proceeding on leave, training, tour, or election duty.normalnormalThe post Health Budget Increased by 298% Since 2014, says Nayab Singh Saini appeared first on Chandigarh City News.