LEHRAGAGA, April 16: Punjab Cabinet Ministers Harpal Singh Cheema, Dr. Balbir Singh, and Barinder Kumar Goyal formally inaugurated the Outpatient Department (OPD) and Inpatient Department (IPD) services at the Community Health Centre (CHC) in Lehragaga. This development represents a primary phase in the state administration’s plan to establish a full-scale Medical College and Hospital in the region, aimed at enhancing local healthcare accessibility.
The previously aging infrastructure of the CHC has undergone significant renovation to accommodate specialist medical professionals. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema affirmed that these services, managed by the Acharya Vidyanand Jain Institute of Medical Sciences and Research under the Janhit Trust, are expected to provide medical relief to residents within a 50-kilometer radius. He maintained that the initiative would significantly elevate the profile of the constituency.
Addressing the transition, Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh declared that the facility is not being privatized. He asserted that the collaboration with the trust is rooted in a commitment to public service rather than commercial gain. The Minister stated that the revival of the former Baba Hira Singh Bhattal Institute as a medical hub would bridge the existing gap in specialist care for the Moonak and Khanauri regions.
Cabinet Minister Barinder Kumar Goyal maintained that the local availability of emergency services would prevent the need for residents to travel long distances to Patiala or Sangrur for urgent care. He further mentioned that the upcoming medical college is slated to begin nursing, MD, and MS courses by next year. The project is designed to include 100 MBBS seats and a 440-bed capacity, with fee structures and admissions remaining strictly under state government regulations.
Health officials noted that the integration of these services is expected to stimulate the local economy while providing a stable foundation for medical education in the area. The inauguration ceremony was attended by various administrative officials and representatives of the Janhit Trust.
