Bathinda, June 3 -- Union minister for health and family welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda on Tuesday reaffirmed the Centre's commitment to strengthening Punjab's healthcare sector, stating that the state remains a priority for the Narendra Modi-led government, which has invested more than Rs.1,900 crore in key healthcare institutions and projects across Punjab. Addressing the second convocation of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Bathinda, Nadda highlighted the Centre's efforts to expand quality healthcare services, medical education and specialised treatment facilities in Punjab over the past decade. Nadda said Punjab is the only state in the country to have been allotted two satellite centres of the prestigious Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh, within a span of 10 years. These centres are being developed at Sangrur and Ferozepur to improve access to advanced healthcare services in the region. "The Union government has invested over Rs.1,000 crore in AIIMS Bathinda, which was inaugurated in 2019. Besides, Rs.449 crore has been allocated for the PGIMER satellite centre in Sangrur and Rs.490 crore for Ferozepur centre," Nadda said. He emphasised that healthcare has remained one of the key focus areas of the Modi government, which has undertaken several initiatives to strengthen Punjab's public health infrastructure. "Along with upgrading civil hospitals, the Centre has approved new medical colleges, established super-speciality blocks and expanded cancer treatment facilities in Punjab. These projects are transforming healthcare delivery and ensuring better medical services for the people," he said. Praising AIIMS Bathinda for its contribution to healthcare, Nadda said the institute has emerged as a major medical hub catering not only to Punjab but also to neighbouring states....