Amidst the roaring controversy over the setting up of ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’ or ‘Mohalla Clinics’, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) led Punjab Government on Tuesday claimed that its ambitious project would provide the best health services to the underserved population, which are going to be functional from August 15 across the State.
The state Health and Family Welfare Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra said that fulfilling another major election promise and to reform the shabby health system in Punjab, Punjab Government will operationalize 75 ‘Aam Aadmi clinics’ on the Independence Day on August 15 to provide free of cost treatment to the people.
“By the end of this fiscal year, 109 Mohalla clinics will be set up to ensure that the common man will not remain deprived of basic health facilities in the State,” he said.
Jouramajra said that after the opening of Aam Aadmi clinics, people will get all emergency treatment near their houses and they will have to visit big hospitals, miles away in cities, only if they will be undergoing a major surgery. Consequently, these clinics will reduce the burden on the government hospitals across the state, he added.
Reacting sharply to the opposition's attacks, the Minister said that they are trying to defame the Government with their baseless allegations and AAP Government is committed to transform the health system and eradicate corrupt practices to facilitate the people of Punjab.
Attacking the opposition, he said that these clinics are not only being whitewashed but the AAP Government will provide outpatient care for a range of curative care for common illnesses, first aid for injuries, dressing and management of minor wounds at the doorstep of the people by expert doctors. But earlier, people had to travel miles to get the basic treatment.
He further said that referral and subsequent follow-up for specialized care will be done through these clinics. Essential drugs and tests will also be made available free of cost in these clinics.
The opposition parties have been alleging that the AAP Government was trying to “fool the people by just changing nameplates of existing government buildings”.
Recently, the Punjab Government had announced setting up of ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’ or Mohalla clinics to provide healthcare to the rural areas. The clinics will be launched on Independence Day and 75 clinics will be set up as part of the first phase. However, the AAP Government’s decision to convert Suvidha Kendras into Mohalla clinics has invited ridicule from the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD).
Former Deputy Chief Minister and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal alleged that AAP Government was trying to fool people by merely converting 74 Suvidha Kendras, set up by Akali Government for public welfare, into these clinics.
“At least 2,000 Suvidha Kendras had been established to provide several essential services under one roof. In one go, they want to uproot those facilities and replace them with some fake government scheme,” Sukhbir alleged.
Punjab Congress had also criticised the Mann government for creation of Mohalla clinics. The state party president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring had also questioned the logic and rationale behind setting up of these Clinics when Punjab already has a nationally and internationally acknowledged robust and vibrant healthcare system.
“There are already thousands of better equipped and better staffed government-run dispensaries across the state, which the AAP government wants to replace with such clinics, which have already failed in Delhi,” he said in a statement.
Punjab Congress president alleged that setting up of Mohalla Clinics appeared to be a “money-minting scheme for the powers that be”, while referring to massive expenses incurred in getting these already existing buildings painted with AAP’s name.