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Punjab government is set to launch 76 Aam Aadmi Clinics this Independence Day

According to the state health minister, 80 medicines and 38 diagnostics tests were available for patients at these clinics, free of cost.

BySouth First Desk

Published Aug 13, 2023 | 10:25 AM ⚊ Updated Aug 13, 2023 | 10:25 AM

Punjab CM Bhagawant Mann in front of an Aam Aadmi Clinic. (Twitter)

With Aam Aadmi Clinics (AACs) proving to be a success in Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann will dedicate a fresh batch of 76 such clinics this Independence Day to mark 76 years of Independence.

Mann dedicated 75 clinics on last year’s Independence Day as well. According to the government, over 44 lakh patients have benefitted from these clinics and over 20 lakh of patients have undergone free tests in less than a year.

Currently, the state has 583 AACs, out of which 180 are located in urban areas and 403 in rural areas.

Also read: Punjab to set up a special force to bring down road fatalities in the state

To make total number of AACs 659

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh, while making the declaration, said: “Following the success of AACs, Chief Minister Mann will dedicate another 76 AACs to the people of the state to mark the 76th Independence Day, taking the total number of operational Aam Aadmi clinics to 659.”

He said that as many as 80 medicines and 38 diagnostics tests were available for patients at these clinics, free of cost. More than 20 lakh free tests and medicines, worth approximately ₹30.25 crore, were provided to the patients in the last year, he added.

He said that each clinic had a medical officer, a pharmacist, a clinic assistant, and a helper.

All the clinics are IT-based with the provision of three tabs for medical officer, pharmacist and clinic assistant. Patient registration, prescription, and dispensation of medicines are being done through these tabs.

The state government has appointed 300 house surgeons to strengthen the emergency services at the district and sub-divisional hospitals, while 200 PG students have been taken on by the Department of Medical Research & Education to serve as contractual medical officers with the state health department.

This initiative is intended to ensure the availability of specialist services at secondary health facilities.

To overcome the shortage of specialist doctors at various district hospitals of Punjab, a total of 85 Diplomate of National Board (DNB) seats have been approved in the 14 districts.