Punjab government to launch flagship programme on August 15, inaugurate 75 mohalla clinics in phase-I

CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday announced the launch of his government's flagship programme of mohalla clinics with the opening of 75 clinics in the first phase on August 15. Chairing a meeting of senior officers, Mann said 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 a 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.
He suggested forming clusters of five to six adjoining villages by establishing a mohalla clinic at a central location, so that it is 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, the secretary, health and family welfare, informed the chief minister about the already existing network of nearly 3,000 sub-centres in rural areas being efficiently manned by the trained paramedic 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 benefit from the state govt's unique health care initiative.
Mann asked the secretary, health, to immediately start hiring the services of doctors and paramedics on contract basis, who were willing to offer their services in mohalla clinics. He 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.
‘Plan each unit for at least 5k people’
Punjab health minister Dr Vijay Singla said the exercise to identify buildings that could be used for mohalla clinics had been going on for a while. “It is also being studied as to how many mohalla clinics are required in the state, depending on what clusters of population can be served with one clinic. We plan to have one unit for at least 5,000 people .We have prepared a detailed plan for recruitment of staff,” he said.