Punjab CM Announces 200 New 'Aam Aadmi Clinics' to Expand Free Healthcare

In another major step toward providing high-quality healthcare to the people of Punjab, Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann announced today that 200 more Aam Aadmi Clinics will be opened in the state so that people don’t have to travel far for medical treatment.

At a ceremony held today at Tagore Theatre, the Chief Minister launched the initiative to link 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics with WhatsApp chatbot. He said that the Aam Aadmi Clinic is becoming the most successful healthcare model in the country, where patients receive complete treatment completely free of cost. He mentioned that the state government will soon launch 200 more clinics, increasing the total number to 1,081. Currently, 565 clinics are operating in rural areas and 316 in urban areas, where around 70,000 patients are visiting daily. This shows that public trust in the government healthcare system is growing.

Women and Elderly Among the Most Benefited

The Chief Minister shared that most of the patients visiting these clinics are women, followed by the elderly, as they are now getting excellent and free medical care close to home.

Calling the integration of Aam Aadmi Clinics with WhatsApp chatbot a major achievement in healthcare, the Chief Minister said that patients can now get updates on their medicines and test reports on their phones whenever they wish. He stated this would bring a revolutionary change in healthcare services. He added that about 90% of people in Punjab use smartphones, which will make this facility easily accessible to them.

The Chief Minister also explained that along with doctor prescriptions, test results, and appointment reminders, WhatsApp will now also provide information related to the care of elderly patients with diabetes and blood pressure, pregnant women, and newborn babies. This means patients no longer need to keep paper prescriptions; they can access everything from their phones. Additionally, the Health Department will now be able to collect full data related to treatment and diseases.

Free Rabies Vaccine and Rs 10 Lakh Treatment Per Family

On this occasion, the Chief Minister announced that now, dog bite victims will receive immediate treatment at Aam Aadmi Clinics. Anti-rabies vaccines will be available there. Earlier, such treatment was costly and not available locally, but now the government will bear the full expense.

Speaking about the ‘Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana’, under which each family gets free treatment up to ₹10 lakh, the Chief Minister said Punjab will become the first state in the country to offer such extensive healthcare coverage. He expressed regret that previous governments barely mentioned health in their election promises and left people to suffer. In rural areas, people avoided treatment for serious diseases as they didn’t want to burden their families with debt. He stressed that it is the government’s duty to provide free and quality healthcare, and the current government is fulfilling this responsibility sincerely.

Punjab on the Path to Becoming a Medical Hub

The Chief Minister stated that strong efforts are being made to develop Punjab into a medical hub. He shared that approvals have been granted for establishing four new medical colleges in Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, Sangrur, and Nawanshahr. Calling free household electricity a major change in people’s lives, he said that 90% of homes in Punjab now have zero electricity bills, which has brought financial relief and increased public trust in government institutions. He added that many students are now moving from private schools to the Schools of Eminence. This year, 208 students from government schools cleared the JEE Advanced, and over 800 passed the NEET exam.

Calling the Special Security Force (SSF) a life-saving unit, the Chief Minister said it has helped save hundreds of lives. As a former Member of Parliament, he recalled that over 5,000 people used to die annually in road accidents in Punjab, but now there’s been a 48% drop in such cases thanks to the SSF—setting an example for other states. The SSF consists of specially trained staff, including women, and operates 144 modern vehicles. Even the Government of India has praised this initiative.

On this occasion, the Chief Minister also urged the visiting team from the World Health Organization (WHO) to tour the Aam Aadmi Clinics and other health institutions in the state and share their valuable insights. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh welcomed the Chief Minister and other guests and shared details of the efforts being made in the health sector. The event was attended by Chief Secretary K.A.P. Sinha, Health Secretary Kumar Rahul, and other dignitaries.