BATHINDA: In a step aimed at imparting quality health services to the people, the Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday dedicated 30 more Aam Aadmi clinics to people thereby taking total tally of such operational clinics to 872.
The 30 clinics dedicated by Chief Minister include five in Bathinda, two in Hoshiarpur, seven in Mansa, three in Moga, six in Patiala, five in SAS Nagar and two in Sri Muktsar Sahib.
Meanwhile, the Chief Minister said that these clinics are acting as corner stone to deliver high-quality primary healthcare services. He said that total 80 types of medicines and 38 diagnostic tests are being provided free of cost. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that these clinics have witnessed a significant response, with a total footfall of over 2.07 cr patients recorded till date.
The Chief Minister said that over 72 lakh diagnostics tests have been conducted free of cost. He said that these clinics have contributed in reducing the out of pocket expenditure on health care of people of State by whopping amount of Rs 1050 crore. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the state government has also launched a special campaign to ensure the availability of all prescribed drugs at Secondary Health facilities.
The Chief Minister said that CMOs/SMOs has been authorised to procure drugs at local level.Simultaneously, he said tha centralized procurement of both drugs and supply chain are being strengthened. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that this initiative has led to an estimated total savings of approximately Rs 102.98 crore in out-of-pocket expenses for patients.
The Chief Minister also said that free X-ray and Ultrasound facilities are being provided at all the Secondary Health care facilities. He said that 512 Private X-Ray and Ultrasound Centers have been empaneled to provide services at nominal government fixed rates, in addition to strengthening the existing government Facilities. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that a large number of patients are taking advantage of this as number of ultrasounds performed daily has risen from 650 to 1, 350, while daily
X-rays have increased from 3, 000 to 4, 200 in the state adding that till date, a total of 7.52 lakh patients (5.67 lakh availed X -Ray services and 1.85 lakh availed USG services) have utilized these services.