Punjab on Tuesday becomes the first state in the country to start the Care Companion Programme in all medical and surgical care units in its district hospitals across the State for medical and surgical in-patient care.
“Through this programme, the relatives of medical and surgical patients would be trained on how to care for their loved ones while still in hospitals, so that the patients have smoother transitions and better outcomes at home,” said the state Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu during an event to launch the second phase of the programme.
Sidhu said that the programme would result in better practice of healthy behaviours such as healthy diet, exercise, hygiene and is aimed at decreasing post-discharge complications.
“Due to its success, this simple yet powerful program is being expanded to other areas of patient care. The Health Department has decided to expand the program across all medical and surgical care units in district hospitals across the State,” he said.
He said that being the pioneering State in the country for this type of initiative, Punjab is showing how a simple program that engages families in their own health can improve the health outcomes of patients across the state.
The state Special Secretary Health and Mission Director, National Health Mission, Punjab, Amit Kumar said that until now, more than 60,000 family members have been trained under this programme. He said that the program has shown impressive results, including an increase in the number of families practicing correct health behaviours at home and a decrease in severe complications after a medical treatment.