Chandigarh, February 17, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh, on Tuesday, chaired the state level conference of Civil Surgeons and Deputy Medical Commissioners to assess ground level implementation of key health programmes and chart the next phase of reforms in primary and secondary healthcare.
The review meeting laid thrust on patient centric service delivery, digital reforms, infrastructure upgradation and strict monitoring mechanisms across districts.
Highlighting the state’s primary healthcare backbone, the Health Minister informed that 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics are functioning across Punjab and witnessing steady footfall and nearly 30 percent rise in pregnant women visits was recorded during the last month alone. High risk pregnancies identified at these clinics have reached 29 percent at the state level, enabling early medical intervention and safeguarding maternal and neonatal health.
Dr. Balbir Singh further announced that 243 new Aam Aadmi Clinics are in the pipeline while 308 Sub Health Centres are being upgraded as Aam Aadmi Clinics. Expansion of services will include newborn and pediatric care, routine immunization and screening for oral and prostate cancers. He reiterated the government’s resolve to strengthen block level institutions with the guiding principle to refer less and cure more.
On availability of medicines, the Health Minister issued clear directions to maintain zero tolerance towards stock gaps, stating that 14 districts have ensured availability of at least 97 out of 102 essential drugs at Aam Aadmi Clinics.
However any deficiency will invite accountability. He asserted that every patient visiting a government health facility must receive prescribed medicines and diagnostic services free of cost. Monitoring through e Aushadhi and district level dashboards will be intensified to ensure uninterrupted supply, he added.
Reviewing the flagship Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, Dr. Balbir Singh said the scheme offers cashless health cover up to Rs.10 lakh per family annually and aims to shield families from financial distress during medical emergencies.
Civil Surgeons were directed to ensure seamless enrolment and smooth service delivery at empanelled hospitals so that no eligible beneficiary is denied treatment. He called for close coordination with CSCs, ASHAs and PRI representatives to maximise outreach and reduce out of pocket expenditure.
The Cabinet Minister also reviewed the progress of the MedLEaPR system which has digitised medico legal examinations and post mortem reporting, bringing transparency and faster processing of cases. Under the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, the Cabinet Minister informed, work has commenced on all 22 District Integrated Public Health Labs and 22 Critical Care Blocks.
Seven labs have been completed and are being handed over to district hospitals to provide integrated diagnostic services including molecular biology and virology testing under one roof, he added.
In secondary care facilities, detailed discussions were held on essential drug stocks, biomedical equipment uptime, sanitation contracts, lift maintenance, fire safety compliance and power backup systems. Dr. Balbir Singh maintained that infrastructure readiness and cleanliness directly influence public trust. Compliance with procurement norms and timely utilisation certificates were also reviewed.
The conference examined progress on maternal mortality reduction, neonatal survival, intensified immunization drives and tuberculosis detection in line with Sustainable Development Goals. Improvement in Maternal Mortality Ratio and high risk pregnancy tracking was noted, while strict instructions were issued for accurate HMIS reporting.
Expansion of Punjab STEMI and Stroke projects across all 23 districts was also reviewed to strengthen tele ECG guided thrombolysis and hub and spoke stroke management. Enhanced screening for non communicable diseases and early cancer detection were cited as key measures to reduce emergency burden and financial strain on families.
The Health Minister discussed the anti drug campaign “Yudh Nashean Virudh 2.0” and informed that Cluster Resource Centres at major medical colleges are supporting treatment and rehabilitation. The SOORMA Programme titled Ambassadors of Recovery will soon be launched to assist recovering addicts through peer support and structured rehabilitation backed by digital OOAT systems and community participation.
Urging district heads to adopt a results oriented approach, Dr. Balbir Singh said every indicator and every patient interaction must translate into timely treatment and dignity in care. He also directed Civil Surgeons to conduct random inspections of health facilities and ensure empathetic behaviour towards patients.
Prominent amongst others who were present included Principal Secretary Health Kumar Rahul, Punjab Development Commission Member Anurag Kundu, PHSC Vice Chairman Vicky Ghanaur, Secretary cum MD NHM Ghanshyam Thori, MD PHSC Amit Talwar, Director Health and Family Welfare Dr. Hitinder Kaur, Director Health Services (Family Welfare) Dr. Aditi Salaria, Director (ESI) Dr. Anil Kumar Goyal, Director PHSC Dr. S.J. Singh along with Deputy Directors, Assistant Directors and senior health officials.
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