Former Punjab Health Minister and senior Congress leader Balbir Singh Sidhu has raised significant concerns regarding the current state of healthcare infrastructure projects in Mohali, alleging neglect by the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government. Sidhu asserts that several critical health initiatives, initiated during the previous Congress administration, have been left incomplete or are deteriorating due to inaction under the current regime.
Sector 79 Dispensary
One of the primary projects highlighted by Sidhu is the Urban Primary Health Center in Sector 79. Approved with a budget of ₹1.05 crore, this dispensary was envisioned to enhance primary healthcare services in the region. Sidhu points out that while a portion of the work, amounting to ₹45 lakh, was completed under the Congress government, the project has since stalled. He expressed concerns that the incomplete facility is now deteriorating, stating, “The incomplete dispensary is now becoming a ruin under the rule of the AAP government.”
Sector 69 Primary Health Center
Another project of concern is the Primary Health Center in Sector 69. Sidhu notes that although the building’s construction has been completed, the facility remains non-operational due to the absence of medical and paramedical staff. This lack of staffing renders the center unable to serve the community’s healthcare needs, effectively leaving a valuable infrastructure asset underutilized.
Phase 6 Hospital
Sidhu also draws attention to the hospital located in Phase 6, which, according to him, is operating without adequate staff. Despite repeated requests to address staffing shortages and fulfill operational requirements, the hospital continues to function below its intended capacity, thereby limiting its ability to provide essential healthcare services to the populace.
Centre of Excellence for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders
A particularly distressing case highlighted by Sidhu is the Centre of Excellence for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders in Sector 79. Established to cater to children with autism and other neurodevelopmental disorders, this facility was the first of its kind in Punjab. Sidhu alleges that under the AAP government’s tenure, the center has been neglected, leading to its deterioration. He further claims that machinery worth lakhs has been stolen from hospitals, questioning, “Machinery worth lakhs has been stolen from hospitals — who will take responsibility for this? Will the Health Minister or Chief Minister cover the costs, as these failures are a result of their mistakes?”
Neurology Center in Sector 79
Sidhu also emphasizes the stalled construction of a Neurology Center in Sector 79, initiated with an allocation of ₹12 crore to treat neurological disorders. The prolonged delay in completing this project has compelled patients to seek treatment at alternative facilities, such as the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, thereby increasing their inconvenience and healthcare costs.
Ayurvedic Hospital in Dayalpura Sodhian Village
The proposed 50-bed Ayurvedic hospital in Dayalpura Sodhian village is another project that Sidhu claims has seen no significant progress. Despite an approved budget of ₹6.5 crore, construction has yet to commence, depriving the community of alternative medicinal treatments that could complement conventional healthcare services.
District Hospital in Sector 66
Sidhu highlights the stagnation of the District Hospital project in Sector 66. Although 8.72 acres of land were allotted by the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) in August 2021, and the foundation stone was laid in November 2021, there has been no observable progress in the construction of the hospital, leaving a critical gap in the region’s healthcare infrastructure.
Primary Health Center in Saneta
The Primary Health Center in Saneta, approved and constructed approximately a year ago, remains non-operational due to the non-posting of doctors and paramedical staff. This inaction has left the facility idle, preventing it from serving the healthcare needs of the local population.
Sidhu’s Appeal to the Chief Minister
In light of these concerns, Sidhu has penned a letter to Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, urging immediate action to complete these pending health projects. He emphasizes the necessity of these facilities for the well-being of Mohali’s residents and criticizes the AAP government’s inattention to healthcare infrastructure. Sidhu asserts that the government’s inaction contradicts its promises of delivering a world-class health model, stating, “The government, which sought votes in the name of a world-class health model, is not paying attention to any projects related to the health department.
The allegations raised by Balbir Singh Sidhu underscore a critical discourse on the state of healthcare infrastructure in Mohali. The purported neglect of these projects not only represents a potential waste of public funds but also signifies missed opportunities to enhance the region’s healthcare services. Addressing these issues necessitates prompt and decisive action from the concerned authorities to fulfill the healthcare needs of Mohali’s residents and to uphold the commitments made to them.
