Chandigarh, Aug. 25 -- Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Tuesday directed the Health Department to intensify outreach and launch a massive awareness campaign to ensure that more people across the state avail themselves of the benefits of the government's two flagship healthcare initiatives - Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna (MMSY) and Aam Aadmi Clinics (AACs).

Chairing a meeting to review the implementation and progress of both schemes, Mann stressed the need for sustained public awareness so that the benefits reach every eligible beneficiary.

Mann said 1,090 Aam Aadmi Clinics, including 603 in rural areas and 487 in urban areas, were providing quality healthcare facilities across Punjab.

The clinics have so far recorded 6.11 crore OPDs, with 1.91 crore unique patients visiting them for the first time to avail free treatment.

Around 93,000 patients visit Aam Aadmi Clinics every day, with an average of 86 OPDs per clinic daily.

Mann said the data generated through the clinics was also helping the government understand disease patterns across districts and strengthen healthcare interventions.,

Women account for 53.7 per cent of patients visiting the clinics, while men constitute 46.3 per cent. As many as 107 medicines are being provided free of cost at the facilities, he said.

Reviewing MMSY, Mann said more than 50 lakh households, covering 1.25 crore beneficiaries, had been brought under the scheme. More than 5.90 lakh beneficiaries have already availed free treatment at 892 empanelled hospitals, including 223 government and 669 private hospitals.

He said 68 per cent of MMSY beneficiaries were from rural areas and 32 per cent from urban areas.

The growing number of private hospitals applying for empanelment, he added, reflected their willingness to partner with the government in providing quality healthcare.

Mann said the results of both schemes were encouraging but greater awareness was needed to ensure maximum enrolment. He said he would directly interact with stakeholders to strengthen implementation and address beneficiaries' issues.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.