Punjab to launch 75 Mohalla Clinics on August 15

CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday announced the launch of his government’s flagship program of Mohalla Clinics with the opening of 75 clinics in the first phase on the 75th Independence Day on August 15.
Chairing a meeting of senior officers, Mann said that his government would fulfil one of its key poll promises with the setting up of these clinics both in urban and rural areas in a phased manner on the Delhi pattern.
Mann also gave nod to convert the non-functional Sewa Kendras across the State into Mohalla Clinics thereby refurbishing such complexes on the uniform pattern with basic interior components including doctor’s room, reception-cum-waiting area, pharmacy, besides separate toilets for staff and visiting patients. He also directed the Principal Secretary, public works to work out the modalities for sprucing-up the interiors of Sewa Kendras, so that these could be suitably converted into Mohalla Clinics.
Mann also suggested forming clusters of five to six adjoining villages by establishing a Mohalla Clinic at a central location, easily accessible to all. This would help in bringing the majority of people residing in rural areas within the ambit of Mohalla Clinics, he said.
During the meeting, a brief presentation was made by the Senior Architect to apprise the chief minister about the various options for the proposed design and layout of these Mohalla Clinics.
Meanwhile, Secretary Health and Family Welfare informed the Chief Minister about the already existing network of nearly 3000 Sub-Centres in the rural areas being efficiently manned by the trained paramedics staff headed by the Community Health Officer. Therefore, he mooted a proposal to convert these Sub-Centres also into Mohalla Clinics thus widening its scope and outreach so that maximum number of people residing in villages could be benefitted from the state govt’s unique health care initiative.
Mann asked the Secretary Health to immediately start the process to hire services of doctors and paramedics on contract basis, who were willing to offer their services for this noble cause in Mohalla Clinics. Mann also sought an action plan for hiring an agency for clinical tests. It was pointed out that the process for recruitment of requisite staff was already underway and the tendering process for hiring the services of an agency for clinical tests would be done by May 31.