Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Saturday made a surprise visit to check the progress of Aam Aadmi Clinic coming up here at Phase 5.
During the inspection, the Chief Minister, accompanied by Cabinet Minister Brahm Shankar and senior officers of state government, examined the ongoing work in the clinic. Expressing satisfaction over the ongoing work, Mann asked the officers to ensure that the work is completed within the stipulated time frame.
Talking to reporters later, Mann said that in the first phase 75 such Aam Aadmi clinics will be dedicated to people on the 75th Independence Day on August 15 to provide the best health care services free of cost to the people across the state. He said that every Aam Aadmi clinic will have a staff of 4-5 persons including a MBBS Doctor, Pharmacist, Nurse and others to diagnose and treat the patients. He said that 41 packages with around 100 clinical tests will be offered to the people free of cost in these Aam Aadmi Clinics.
The Chief Minister said that his government will fulfil one of the major poll promises with setting up of these clinics both in urban and rural areas. He envisioned that these clinics will be a cornerstone in revamping the healthcare system in Punjab and expressed hope that 90% of patients will get treated from these clinics only thereby reducing the burden in hospitals.
Mann said that this decision will rejuvenate the Healthcare system in state by imparting quality Health service to the people, adding that all the 75 Aam Aadmi clinics are coming up 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 said that online appointment facilities for the patients will also be available in these Clinics.
The CM said that these clinics will provide free medicines and diagnostic facilities to the people, adding that only the serious patients with major ailments will be further referred to the hospitals. Mann also said that the process to hire services of doctors and paramedics is already in the pipeline and so far around 2140 well qualified Doctors have applied for these posts.
Mann reiterated that the state government is according top priority to Health and education sectors, adding that the Government Civil Hospitals across the state will be spruced up in the coming days for imparting quality health services to people. Likewise, Mann also said that 16 new Medical colleges will also be set up in the state in the coming five years.
Cabinet Minister Brahm Shankar Jimpa, MLA Kulwant Singh, Additional Chief Secretary to CM A Venuprasad, Principal Secretary PWD Anurag Verma, Secretary Health Ajoy Kumar Sharma, Deputy Inspector General of Police Gurpreet Singh Bhullar, Deputy Commissioner Amit Talwar, SSP Vivek Sheel Soni and others were also present.
PSPCL ISSUES NOTIFICATION FOR FREE 300 UNITS OF ELECTRICITY PER MONTH
The Punjab Government fulfilled a major pre-poll guarantee about the waiver of 300 units of electricity per month thus making it free 600 units every two months. The notification to the effect was issued on Saturday by the Punjab State Power Corporation Limited (PSPCL).
Power Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO said that the notification entails granting free 600 units of electricity bimonthly / 300 units of electricity monthly for all domestic consumers, using electricity for residential purpose only (excluding all the other consumers covered under Schedule of Tariff for Domestic Supply viz Government Hospitals/Government Dispensaries, all places of worship, Government Sports Institutions, Sainik Rest Houses, Government/Government Aided Educational Institutions & attached hostels). This concession has already come into effect from July 1, 2022.
As per the notification, in case of Bimonthly Consumption up to 600 units/Monthly Consumption up to 300 units, there would be Zero Bill for all domestic consumers using electricity for residential purpose only i.e. no energy charges, fixed charges, meter rent and Govt. levies/taxes shall be charged to these consumers.
In case bimonthly consumption exceeds 600 units or monthly consumption exceeds 300 units, the SC, BC, Non-SC/BC BPL and Freedom Fighters of Punjab along with their successors (up to grandchildren) who fulfill the conditions as per the Self-Declaration shall pay energy charges only for the units consumed in excess of 600 units bimonthly/300 units monthly, along with fixed charges, meter rentals and government levies/taxes. As free 600 units bimonthly/300 units monthly shall pertain to initial slabs of tariff, therefore, the electricity consumption in excess of 600 units bimonthly/300 units monthly shall be billed as per the applicable slabs of monthly tariff above 300 units.
All the other domestic consumers (except those covered above) shall pay energy charges for their entire consumption as per applicable tariff issued by the PSERC from time to time, along with fixed charges, meter rentals & Government levies/taxes, in case their consumption is more than 600 units bimonthly / 300 units monthly.