Punjab govt to open 3K health centres: Sidhu

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, February 23

Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu on Sunday said the state government had spent Rs 180 crore on 1.60 lakh patients under the Ayushman Bharat Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojna (AB-SSBY) since it was launched on August 20, 2019.

While inaugurating the 38th free eye check-up and operation camp organised by the Jagriti Club in Adampur, the minister said: “Under the AB-SSBY,46 lakh e-cards have already been generated to extend the benefits of the scheme.”

He said more than 490 hospitals had been empanelled under the AB-SSBY and more hospitals were enlisted under the scheme. The minister said the state government was already in process to open 3,000 Health and Wellness Centres (HWC) by upgrading sub-centres, where trained nursing officers would work as Community Health Officers and provide the best health facilities to all.

INTUC Chairman Chaudhary Gurmail Singh, Civil Surgeon Dr Gurinder Kaur Chawla, Assistant Civil Surgeon Dr Gurmeet Kaur Duggal, District Dental Health Officer Dr Satinder Powar, District Immunisation Officer Dr Seema, District Family and Welfare Officer Dr Surinder Kumar, Arun Malhotra, Balbir Singh, Amarjeet Singh and others were present.