Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh on Tuesday chaired a state-level conference of Civil Surgeons and Deputy Medical Commissioners to review the implementation of key health programmes and plan the next phase of reforms in primary and secondary healthcare. The meeting focused on patient-centric service delivery, digital initiatives, infrastructure upgrades, and strict monitoring mechanisms across districts.
Highlighting the state’s primary healthcare network, Dr. Balbir Singh said 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics are operational across Punjab, reporting steady footfall. He noted a nearly 30% increase in visits by pregnant women over the past month. High-risk pregnancies identified at these clinics have reached 29% statewide, allowing timely interventions to safeguard maternal and neonatal health.
The Minister Balbir Singh announced plans to set up 243 new Aam Aadmi Clinics and upgrade 308 Sub Health Centres to enhance services including newborn and pediatric care, routine immunizations, and screening for oral and prostate cancers. He reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening block-level institutions with a “refer less, cure more” approach.
ਚੰਡੀਗੜ੍ਹ ਵਿਖੇ ਸਿਵਲ ਸਰਜਨਾਂ ਦੀ ਸੂਬਾ ਪੱਧਰੀ ਵਰਕਸ਼ਾਪ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਹੁੰਚੇ ਸਿਹਤ ਮੰਤਰੀ @AAPbalbir
ਸੰਬੋਧਨ ਕਰਦਿਆਂ ਡਾਕਟਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ਼ ਸਿਹਤ ਸੰਬੰਧੀ ਵਿਸ਼ਿਆਂ ‘ਤੇ ਕੀਤੇ ਮਹੱਤਵਪੂਰਨ ਵਿਚਾਰ-ਵਟਾਂਦਰੇ pic.twitter.com/iRGvEaoLkB
— AAP Punjab (@AAPPunjab) February 17, 2026
Regarding medicine availability, Dr. Balbir Singh directed zero tolerance for stock shortages, noting that 14 districts currently maintain at least 97 out of 102 essential drugs at Aam Aadmi Clinics. He emphasized that all patients visiting government health facilities must receive prescribed medicines and diagnostic services free of cost, with monitoring strengthened via e-Aushadhi and district dashboards.
Reviewing the flagship Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, the Minister stated that the scheme provides cashless health coverage of up to ₹10 lakh per family annually, shielding families from financial burden during medical emergencies. Civil Surgeons were instructed to ensure smooth enrolment and service delivery at empanelled hospitals, with close coordination with CSCs, ASHAs, and PRI representatives to maximize outreach and minimize out-of-pocket expenses.
Dr. Balbir Singh Reviews MedLEaPR System and Expansion of District Public Health Labs
Dr. Balbir Singh also reviewed the MedLEaPR system, which digitizes medico-legal examinations and post-mortem reporting for faster, transparent processing. Under the Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, work has commenced on all 22 District Integrated Public Health Labs and 22 Critical Care Blocks, with seven labs completed and handed over to district hospitals to provide integrated diagnostic services including molecular biology and virology testing.
In secondary care, discussions covered essential drug stocks, biomedical equipment uptime, sanitation, lift maintenance, fire safety compliance, and power backups. The Minister stressed that infrastructure readiness and cleanliness are critical for public trust, alongside timely procurement compliance and utilisation of funds.
The conference also examined maternal mortality reduction, neonatal survival, intensified immunization drives, and tuberculosis detection in line with Sustainable Development Goals. Improvements in maternal mortality tracking and high-risk pregnancy monitoring were noted, with strict instructions issued for accurate HMIS reporting.
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Expansion of Punjab’s STEMI and Stroke projects across all 23 districts was reviewed to strengthen tele-ECG guided thrombolysis and hub-and-spoke stroke management. Enhanced screening for non-communicable diseases and early cancer detection were highlighted as key measures to reduce emergency burden and financial strain on families.
Dr. Balbir Singh Highlights ‘Yudh Nashian Virudh 2.0’ and Launch of SOORMA Recovery Programme
Dr. Singh also discussed the anti-drug campaign “Yudh Nashian Virudh 2.0,” noting that Cluster Resource Centres at major medical colleges are supporting treatment and rehabilitation. The SOORMA Programme, titled Ambassadors of Recovery, will soon launch to assist recovering addicts through peer support, structured rehabilitation, digital OOAT systems, and community participation.
Urging district heads to adopt a results-oriented approach, Dr. Singh stressed that every indicator and patient interaction must translate into timely treatment with dignity. Civil Surgeons were directed to conduct random inspections of health facilities and ensure empathetic behaviour towards patients.