Chandigarh: Leader of the Opposition in the Punjab Assembly, Partap Singh Bajwa, has blamed the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab government for the tragic deaths of three patients at Jalandhar Civil Hospital due to a disruption in oxygen supply. He has called for the immediate resignation of Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh.
Bajwa criticized the government’s response, saying the suspension of three doctors and termination of a house surgeon show the administration’s failure. “Such actions are not enough. The Health Minister must take moral responsibility and step down,” he said.
He accused the AAP government of damaging Punjab’s healthcare system in its attempt to replicate Delhi’s failed health model. “Instead of strengthening what was already working in Punjab, the AAP government chose to copy something unsuitable,” he added.
Bajwa also raised serious concerns about staff shortages in government hospitals. He revealed that 990 out of 2,098 specialist doctor posts are vacant, and over 51% of general medical officer posts remain unfilled — 1,962 out of 3,847 positions.
“These vacancies highlight a major crisis in Punjab’s public healthcare system that the government must address urgently,” he stated.