Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh said a 23 per cent increase in the health sector allocation would strengthen accessible and affordable healthcare in the state. The minister said Rs 6,890 crore had been allocated to ensure quality medical services.He said Aam Aadmi Clinics were witnessing increasing footfall, particularly after the government introduced free distribution of 107 essential medicines and 47 diagnostic tests. The clinics had recorded nearly 5 crore outpatient visits so far.The government has allocated Rs 351 crore for the clinics.Dr Balbir Singh said around 100 additional Aam Aadmi Clinics were close to becoming operational, while 143 new clinics would be opened in the coming financial year. In addition, 308 Subsidiary Health Centres would be upgraded as Aam Aadmi Clinics.With these additions, the total number of Aam Aadmi Clinics set up by the state in five years will reach 1,432.The minister also announced an allocation of Rs 2,000 crore for 2026-27 to provide universal health insurance of up to Rs 10 lakh per family annually under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana. The scheme is expected to benefit about 65 lakh families.He said a modern trauma centre would be established at Anandpur Sahib to provide emergency and critical care services.Seven new medical colleges were also being established in Hoshiarpur, Kapurthala, Sangrur, SBS Nagar, Lehragaga, Malerkotla and Ludhiana, which would add 600 MBBS seats.