India, March 8 -- Despite the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government's ambitious 2022 budget promise to establish 16 medical colleges within five years, Punjab is unlikely to see a new state-run medical facility before 2028.

Health minister Balbir Singh confirmed that the state is now focusing on converting the Hoshiarpur District Hospital into a medical college. The project, estimated at Rs.274.75 crore, operates on a 60:40 funding split between the Centre and the state. While work is slated to begin on March 20, the minister noted the 300-bed facility and 100-seat MBBS college would only be functional by 2028.

Private-public divide

The delay highlights a stagnation in Punjab's public healthcare education. At present, the state operates onl...