Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Friday announced to launch his government’s flagship program of mohalla clinics with 75 such clinics being made ready by August 15 in the first phase.
Chairing a high level meeting of senior officers here at his official residence on Friday afternoon, Bhagwant Manne said that non-functional Sewa Kendras across Punjab would be converted into Mohalla Clinics by 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.
The Chief Minister also suggested forming a cluster of five to six adjoining villages by establishing a Mohalla Clinic at a central location, easily accessible to all. This would help in bringing majority of people residing in rural areas within the ambit of Mohalla Clinics.
During the meeting, 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 para-medics staff headed by 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.
Summing up the deliberations, the Chief Minister asked the Secretary Health to immediately start the process to hire services of doctors/paramedics on contract basis, who were willing to offer their services for this noble cause in Mohalla Clinics.
