80 more Aam Aadmi Clinics to be inaugurated in Punjab

With this, 580 ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’ will be operational in the state to provide free and quality healthcare services to the people, an official statement issued on Thursday said.

Also Read:Punjab gets 25 more Aam Aadmi Clinics

As many as 100 such clinics were inaugurated in the first phase and 404 were dedicated to the people in the second phase, it said.

Equipped with state-of-the-art infrastructure, these clinics are providing quality treatment and diagnostic facilities to people free of cost. So far, 25.63 lakh patients from across the state have benefited from these clinics, it added.

Forty-one diagnostic tests are available at these clinics free of cost. Till April 30, 1.78 lakh patients had undergone these tests, according to the statement.

“These clinics have helped the government in preparing a database for checking the various diseases prevalent in the state and combating them effectively,” it said.

According to the statement, 80 drugs are being provided free of cost to patients at ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’.

The most commonly used drugs are those for hypertension, diabetes, skin ailments and seasonal outbreaks like viral fever, etc.

Medical Dialogues team had earlier reported that the Community health officers (CHO), who are non-physician health workers, are now being deputed at the subsidiary health centres in Punjab as replacements for MBBS doctors. This move was taken by the State Government after the MBBS doctors got shifted to newly-opened Aam Aadmi Clinics (AACs). Even though CHOs are trained healthcare workers, they have very limited healthcare expertise when compared to physicians. They will hold OPDs, if required, and also refer patients to the nearest AACs for laboratory tests.

Also Read:Punjab Govt Deputes CHOs to replace MBBS doctors in subsidiary health centres