Gujarat Government Unveils Major Healthcare Expansion in 2026-27 Budget
The Gujarat government has announced a substantial allocation in its 2026-27 budget to significantly enhance specialty healthcare services across the state. This strategic move aims to decentralize advanced medical treatment, thereby reducing the burden on major tertiary hospitals and improving accessibility for patients in remote and underserved regions.
Satellite Centers for Kidney and Heart Diseases
In a bid to strengthen uro-nephrology services, a provision of Rs 186 crore has been earmarked for the Institute of Kidney Diseases and Research Centre (IKDRC) in Ahmedabad. This funding will support the establishment of satellite centers in key locations including Surat, Sola-Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Bhavnagar. The initiative is designed to bring critical diagnostics, dialysis-linked care, and specialist consultations closer to patients, thereby minimizing dependence on a single tertiary hub.
Similarly, the budget allocates Rs 167 crore for the UN Mehta Institute of Cardiology and Research, along with its satellite centers in Surat, Sola-Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, and Porbandar. This expansion is expected to facilitate earlier detection and treatment of heart diseases, streamline referral pathways, and alleviate the patient load at the main cardiac institute in Ahmedabad.
Enhanced Public Health Initiatives
To bolster public health outreach, the government has allocated Rs 30 crore for providing Ready-to-Eat Nutritious Snacks to tuberculosis (TB) patients. This initiative aims to support their recovery and address nutritional needs, complementing the broader healthcare strategy.
Additionally, the budget includes Rs 500 crore for the construction of multi-specialty hospital infrastructure. This will encompass cancer, cardiac-neuro, and uro-nephro super-specialty hospitals in Ahmedabad and Surat. These higher-capacity tertiary facilities are anticipated to enhance the state's capability to manage complex medical cases while improving regional access to advanced care.
Strengthening Primary Healthcare
In an effort to improve primary healthcare access, particularly for construction workers, the government plans to add 50 new Arogya Raths to the existing fleet of 154 Dhanvantari Arogya Raths. Furthermore, Rs 90 crore has been set aside for a new 1,000-bed hospital at PDU Hospital in Rajkot, which will significantly boost healthcare capacity in the region.
The budget also makes a provision of Rs 502 crore for the Shrestha Gujarat Project. This initiative is focused on upgrading health infrastructure across the state and tackling non-communicable diseases and other public health challenges, ensuring a comprehensive approach to healthcare improvement.
Overall, these allocations reflect the Gujarat government's commitment to creating a more robust and accessible healthcare system, with a clear emphasis on decentralization and enhanced patient care.
