DC approves Rs4.14 billion District Health Authority budget for FY2026-27

GUJRAT: Deputy Commissioner and Administrator District Health Authority (DHA) Gujrat Noor-ul-Ain Qureshi has approved a budget of more than Rs4.14 billion for the District Health Authority for the financial year 2026-27, with the largest allocation earmarked for salaries of healthcare workers and a significant share reserved for the uninterrupted supply of medicines in government health facilities.

The budget was approved during a meeting chaired by the deputy commissioner at her office on Wednesday. The meeting was attended by Chief Executive Officer Health Dr Syed Atta ul Munim, Deputy Director Budget Health, and other relevant officials, who reviewed the proposed allocations and expenditure plan for the upcoming fiscal year.

According to officials, the total approved budget stands at Rs4,141,211,000, covering salaries, medicines, utilities, contractual staff payments, recruitment and repair of health facilities across the district.

Officials informed the meeting that Rs3.274 billion has been allocated for salaries and allowances of doctors, nurses, paramedics and other employees serving in the district health system. The allocation constitutes the largest portion of the annual budget and is aimed at ensuring uninterrupted payment of salaries to healthcare staff working in hospitals and primary healthcare facilities.

A sum of Rs400 million has been reserved for the procurement and uninterrupted supply of medicines to government healthcare institutions, including the District Headquarters Hospital, Tehsil Headquarters Hospitals, Rural Health Centres (RHCs), Basic Health Units (BHUs) and other public health facilities operating under the District Health Authority.

The meeting was further informed that Rs104 million has been allocated for the payment of electricity, gas, water and other utility bills to ensure smooth functioning of health institutions across the district.

An additional Rs60 million has been earmarked for payments to doctors serving under the lump-sum pay package, enabling the authority to continue services in facilities where contractual medical professionals are performing duties.

Officials also briefed the meeting that the remaining funds would be utilised for Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) recruitments, repair and rehabilitation of healthcare facilities, and other operational requirements aimed at strengthening service delivery throughout the district.

Deputy Commissioner Noor-ul-Ain Qureshi directed the health authorities to ensure transparent utilisation of public funds and stressed that every allocation should directly contribute to improving healthcare services for citizens. She emphasised the need for strict financial discipline and instructed officers to closely monitor expenditure throughout the financial year.

The meeting also reviewed priority areas requiring financial support and discussed measures to maintain uninterrupted healthcare services in both urban and rural areas of the district.

The approval of the annual budget comes as the District Health Authority seeks to improve service delivery, maintain essential medical supplies and address operational needs across Gujrat’s public healthcare network. Officials expressed confidence that timely release and efficient utilisation of funds would help strengthen healthcare services and improve access to treatment for residents across the district during the 2026-27 fiscal year.