Ludhiana yet to get 29 Aam Aadmi Clinics

Times News Network
Ludhiana: Although 34 Aam Aadmi Clinics (AACs) are supposed to come up in the third phase in the district, only five have been made operational so far. Last month, chief minister(CM) Bhagwant Mann, along with Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, inaugurated these clinics in the district.
Health department officials said that as part of the third phase, 34 AACs are to come up in the district, of which five were inaugurated by Punjab CM and Delhi CM on May 5. Of these, around three are located in Ludhiana central constituency, they said. They added that 29 AACs are yet to become functional.
The officials said that the health department has already selected staff for these centres, including medical officers, pharmacists and clinical assistants. They added that last month, the staff wwas assigned AACs but they are yet to start working as the centres have not been made operational so far.
“We were selected before May and were assigned AACs last month. But till now, we are unable to start working as work of our centre is yet to be completed,” said a medical officer deputed at an AAC.
He added that as the medical officer, he is entitled to an empanelment fee of Rs 50 per patient and is assured a minimum of 50 patients per day. As per health department officials, each pharmacist and clinical assistant is entitled to an empanelment fee of Rs 12 and Rs 11 per patient, respectively and they have all been assured a minimum of 50 patients per day.
Meanwhile, the health department authorities said that AACs will be made operational once their construction is completed. Civil surgeon Dr Hatinder Kaur said that the 29 AACs are yet to be opened but work is going on. She added that they will be opened to the public as soon as work finishes and they get a date from their headquarters. There is no deadline for opening of these AACs, she said. Health department officials said that as of now, they have 51 dedicated AACs in the district.
Meanwhile, questioning the adequacy of the health infrastructure, social worker Keemti Rawal said, “What can be said of such clinics where even tests are not being done? There is a shortage of staff at the civil hospital. The authorities should first provide adequate infrastructure and staff at the civil hospital then start opening such clinics.”