Chandigarh (Balwinder Singh): Haryana Health Minister Aarti Singh Rao announced on Tuesday that the provincial government will transition cleanliness and security management at state-run hospitals to a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Speaking to journalists at her official residence in Chandigarh, the minister outlined the shift as a core mechanism to reinforce safety protocols for female patients, nursing staff, and medical professionals across public healthcare institutions.
As part of the regional infrastructure updates, the minister confirmed that the under-construction government medical college in the Charkhi Dadri district will be named in honor of the historic freedom fighter Rao Tula Ram. The naming initiative, heavily advocated by Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh, received formal clear-out from Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini and central authorities to inspire civic and historical awareness among younger generations. Operationally, the Health Minister emphasized that the administration’s immediate workforce priority remains filling critical vacancies for gynecologists, pediatricians, and anesthesiologists in all district-level facilities to keep maternal and childcare accessible near residential hubs.
Addressing recent safety concerns, Rao reiterated a zero-tolerance stance regarding offenses against women. She highlighted the prompt termination and subsequent police booking of a medical consultant implicated in the sexual harassment of a minor at the Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Civil Hospital in Kurukshetra as evidence of strict accountability enforcement.
The health ministry is overseeing infrastructural investments totaling ₹104.16 crore alongside allocations approved under the 15th Finance Commission to build 766 new rural and semi-urban health facilities. The expansion package features 597 sub-health centers, 51 Primary Health Centers (PHCs), 7 Community Health Centers (CHCs), and 111 Block Public Health Centers. For specialized patient care, tele-ECG services are being rolled out across 600 healthcare institutions to assist cardiac patients, while 23 district hospitals have opened ‘Amrit Pharmacies’ to offer subsidized, high-quality medications. Additionally, in alignment with national green energy targets, the state is advancing plans to install solar power plants across state hospital roofs to optimize environmental efficiency.
