North News
Chandigarh, December 30
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh has announced the success of the state government’s ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’ (AACs), where over 2.58 crore patients have received free treatment. Of these, 1.08 crore were unique patients, while 1.5 crore revisited the clinics. The initiative launched with 75 clinics on Independence Day, has expanded to 881 clinics, including 316 in urban areas and 565 in rural regions. The clinics offer free treatment, including 80 medicines and 38 diagnostic tests, reducing out-of-pocket healthcare expenses by ₹1,200 crore.
In addition to AACs, Punjab has operationalized 3,134 Health and Wellness Centres with new Community Health Officers providing comprehensive primary care. A Free Drug Initiative and Diagnostic Initiative, launched in January 2024, ensure essential medicines and services like X-rays and ultrasounds at subsidized rates.
The state also expanded healthcare infrastructure with new Mother and Child Healthcare (MCH) wings, a National Midwifery Training Institute in Patiala, and the DNB program to address the shortage of specialist doctors. Dr. Singh highlighted the Punjab STEMI Project, which provides free treatment for heart attack patients, and the Punjab Stroke Project, launched in October 2024, offering free mechanical thrombectomy for stroke patients. The anti-dengue campaign ‘Har Shukarvaar Dengue Te Vaar’ has reduced dengue cases by 55% and deaths by 70%. Dialysis facilities for kidney patients have also expanded, with 168 machines at 40 centers, providing 32,800 free sessions to 4,831 patients between April and November 2024.
