Chandigarh, Oct 14 (NationPress) In a bold step to enhance the public healthcare framework, the Punjab government is preparing to inaugurate 236 new Aam Aadmi Clinics, bringing the total to 1,117, as announced by Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh on Tuesday.

The Health Minister chaired a high-level meeting with Civil Surgeons, emphasizing the success of the Aam Aadmi Clinics, which have significantly increased public access to quality primary healthcare.

According to a recent Patient Feedback Survey conducted by the Punjab Development Commission, an impressive 96 percent of patients reported satisfaction with the clinics' services, highlighting their effectiveness.

Reiterating the state government’s pledge to prioritize the health and well-being of its citizens, Balbir Singh urged Civil Surgeons to hasten the establishment of new Aam Aadmi Clinics and promptly begin the recruitment of doctors and essential staff to ensure these clinics become operational without delay.

He noted that the primary healthcare network will see a substantial boost through the distribution of health kits to ASHAs and essential equipment to Community Health Officers (CHOs), thus enhancing grassroots-level care delivery.

Furthermore, Balbir Singh revealed that Punjab is leading the way in utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) for the early detection and management of critical illnesses such as breast cancer and stroke.

A significant initiative aimed at preventive child health will see all 250 RBSK teams equipped with AI auto-refractor devices to improve the identification of refractive errors in school-aged children. This program will ensure that affected children receive spectacles, protecting their vision and future.

Highlighting the state’s proactive and extensive preventive measures, which have yielded outstanding results in combating vector-borne diseases, Balbir Singh pointed out the remarkable success of the 'Har Shukarvar Dengue Te Var' campaign, leading to an 80 percent reduction in dengue cases compared to 2023.

Civil Surgeons were instructed to amplify anti-dengue activities in potential hotspot areas to ensure this positive trend persists.

To nurture a culture of excellence and dedication, the Health Minister praised the heroic actions of doctors and paramedical staff during the recent floods, promising that a new policy will be introduced to annually honor and recognize hardworking personnel.