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Punjab's AAP Clinics Serve 20,000 Pregnant Women Monthly, Save Rs 1 Crore

The Punjab government reports that its protocol-driven pregnancy care model at Aam Aadmi Clinics is now serving nearly 20,000 pregnant women every month. A key component is a referral system providing free ultrasound scans, which has already saved families an estimated Rs 1 crore in out-of-pocket expenses over four months. The program is addressing critical gaps, as prior data showed less than 70% of pregnant women received their first antenatal check-up. The widespread network of 881 clinics identifies about 5,000 high-risk pregnancies monthly for specialized tracking and support.

Key Points: Punjab AAP Clinics Aid 20,000 Pregnant Women Monthly

  • 20,000 monthly prenatal visits
  • Free ultrasounds via 500 centers
  • Rs 1 crore saved in 120 days
  • 5,000 high-risk cases identified monthly
  • 881 clinics form primary care backbone
2 min read

20,000 pregnant women visiting AAP clinics every month, says Punjab minister

Punjab's Aam Aadmi Clinics provide free prenatal care & ultrasounds to 20,000 expectant mothers monthly, saving families Rs 1 crore in 120 days.

"This intervention alone has saved families an estimated Rs 1 crore in out-of-pocket expenses - Official Data"

Chandigarh, Jan 4

The Punjab government has decentralised maternal healthcare, with Aam Aadmi Clinics emerging as the new lifeline for expectant mothers, government officials said on Sunday.

Within four months of launching a specialised, protocol-driven pregnancy care model, the state has recorded a massive surge in service utilisation, with nearly 20,000 pregnant women visiting these clinics every month, said the State Health and Family Welfare Minister Balbir Singh on Sunday.

He said the programme has already provided free ultrasound services to more than 10,000 women through a referral system.

By empanelling nearly 500 private diagnostic centres, the state government has ensured that women can access scans, which usually cost between Rs 800 and Rs 2,000, free of cost.

This intervention alone has saved families an estimated Rs 1 crore in out-of-pocket expenses in a short span of 120 days.

Official data shows less than 70 per cent of pregnant women in Punjab had received their first ante-natal check-up and fewer than 60 per cent had completed the recommended four check-ups, while the state's maternal mortality ratio stood at 90 per one lakh live births, higher than the national average.

These figures underlined the need for a comprehensive, accessible pregnancy care model across the state.

Punjab witnesses nearly 4.3 lakh pregnancies every year, making early detection, regular monitoring, and timely referral critical for safeguarding the health of mothers and infants.

Over the past three years, the state government has established 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics, which have emerged as the backbone of Punjab's primary healthcare system, recording more than 4.6 crore OPD visits and treating nearly 70,000 patients daily.

Leveraging this infrastructure, the state government launched an expanded, protocol-driven pregnancy care model through Aam Aadmi Clinics around four months ago.

Under this reform, all essential ante-natal check-ups are now available at Aam Aadmi Clinics themselves.

These include routine and critical tests such as HIV and syphilis screening, complete blood tests, sugar, thyroid, hepatitis, fetal heart rate, cholesterol and hemoglobin assessments.

Where ultrasounds are required, doctors issue referral slips enabling pregnant women to access free ultrasound services.

Importantly, around 5,000 women are being identified monthly as high-risk pregnancies, allowing for continuous tracking, focused support, and timely referral to higher medical facilities for specialist care.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
Good initiative, but the real test is in the rural areas. Are these clinics properly staffed and equipped in villages? The numbers look great, but quality of care matters more than just footfall.
S
Sarah B
The focus on identifying high-risk pregnancies is crucial. Early detection can literally save lives. The maternal mortality ratio being higher than the national average is concerning, so this intervention is much needed.
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Aman W
Free ultrasound is a game-changer. In my village, many women used to skip scans because of the cost. Now they can get proper checkups. Hope this continues beyond the initial launch phase.
K
Karthik V
Decentralising healthcare is the right approach. 881 clinics across the state means better access for everyone. The 4.6 crore OPD visits show people are trusting these centres. A solid foundation for maternal care.
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Nisha Z
The statistics before this program were alarming - less than 60% completing four check-ups. This model addresses a critical gap. Providing all essential tests at the clinic itself removes so many barriers for women.

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