The North News
Chandigarh, April 25
A high-level Australian parliamentary delegation has expressed admiration for Punjab’s flagship Aam Aadmi Clinics (AAC) and shown interest in adopting the model in Australia, marking a major moment of international validation for the state’s public healthcare reforms. The 14-member delegation from the State of Victoria, led by MPs Dylon Wight and Mathew Hilakari, visited an Aam Aadmi Clinic and the Punjab Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences (PILBS) in Mohali on Friday. The visit was part of a broader exploration of healthcare and agricultural innovation in Punjab.
During their tour of the primary healthcare facility, the Australian representatives observed the free services provided at the AACs — including access to 80 essential medicines and 38 diagnostic tests — delivered close to people’s homes. They were particularly struck by the patient footfall, with over 60 individuals receiving care by 11 am.
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh, who later met with the delegation alongside key departmental officials, said the visitors were “deeply impressed” by the affordability, accessibility, and quality of care available through the Aam Aadmi Clinics.
“They found our model both efficient and compassionate, and expressed a clear intention to explore its applicability within their own healthcare system,” Dr Singh told reporters. He added that PILBS, Punjab’s tertiary care liver institute, also received high praise for providing advanced, cost-effective treatment. Beyond healthcare, the two sides also explored avenues for cooperation in agriculture and environmental sustainability. Discussions focused on millet cultivation, organic farming, water conservation, and pollution reduction. “Given the climatic similarities between Punjab and parts of Australia, we believe there’s immense potential for bilateral learning,” said Dr Singh.
The Health Minister revealed plans to launch exchange programmes, allowing healthcare and agriculture experts from both regions to engage in cross-training and research collaboration.
This latest recognition comes on the heels of Punjab’s recent international acclaim at the Global Health Supply Chain Summit in Nairobi in 2023, where its Aam Aadmi Clinic model won first prize for innovation in last-mile drug delivery.
