Chandigarh: As the countdown begins for the launch of the Punjab government’s ambitious project to provide quality healthcare at the doorstep of the people, there is a wave of expectation among the people. This will bring a revolution in healthcare, as the 75 Aam Aadmi Clinics that will be launched today begin providing free medical care to the people, said Punjab Health minister, Chetan Singh Jauramajra.
The health department has prepared 100 Aam Aadmi clinics for the first Phase and after the inauguration of the first 75, to be done on Independence day on Monday, the remaining 25 will also be thrown open to the people. The clinics are spread across the state to cover all 117 constituencies. Each clinic will have a staff of 4, that includes a MBBS doctor and lab technician and will cater to a population of approximately 20000/- persons. They are meant to provide basic treatment and if any specialised attention is required, the clinics will perform the role of referral centres.
Infrastructure has been developed for 65 clinics in urban areas and 35 in rural areas. The clinics are equipped to carry out 41 different tests and adequate budgetary provision has been made to provide free medicines to the patients.
Terming the initiative as a major shot in the arm for health infrastructure in Punjab, the health minister said that the Punjab government is working diligently to ensure availability of requisite staff and equipment for the smooth running of these clinics.
The government is also planning to run the Primary Health Centres (PHC) in the state on the same lines as the Aam Admi Clinics in the subsequent phases.
“It is a testament of Punjab government’s firm commitment towards people to provide best healthcare facilities to them and fulfil its poll promises unlike previous government, who usually start working only around elections,” said the Health Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra.
The Aam Aadmi Clinics have been established to ensure that no person in the state needs to worry about money for treatment, he said.