Family doctor concept will be role model for nation: CM Jagan

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has said his government’s  Family Doctor concept will be a role model for the country. “A novel initiative in the field of medical services has been initiated from Lingamguntla,” he said.

Inaugurating the Family Doctor scheme at a state-level event at Chilakaluripeta constituency in Palnadu district on Thursday, Jagan Mohan Reddy said, “We are starting the Family Doctor system across the state from today. We have started a new policy in the medical services system in AP and this concept will stand as a role model for the entire country.”

Addressing a large gathering, the CM pointed out that the Family Doctor initiative is taking healthcare to the doorsteps of the people. Qualified doctors will man 10,032 Dr YSR Village Health Clinics that would extend preventive healthcare to the needy across the state.”

He commented that the Family Doctor Programme would herald revolutionary changes in extending healthcare to the needy. He explained that, just like the pensions are handed over to the beneficiaries at the households, the healthcare facilities would also reach the people’s doorsteps.

Besides visiting the bed-ridden people and treating them, Family Doctors would extend free medical treatment to people suffering from both communicable and non-communicable diseases, and also to lactating mothers and anaemic schoolchildren and women, he said.

The Chief Minister said, “The government has brought about revolutionary changes in healthcare as it highly values the lives of the people. With one Primary Health Centre (PHC) serving every 2500 people, the Family Doctor programme would soon turn the state into a role model for other states in preventive healthcare.”

Each mandal would consist of two PHCs while each PHC would comprise two doctors with one of them taking care of the out-patients and the other visiting YSR Health Clinics in assigned villages, schools and anganwadi centres twice a month.

“These doctors would identify the people suffering from BP, Sugar and anaemic conditions and provide them treatment in the initial stages itself, preventing serious heart and other diseases among them,” Jagan Mohan Reddy said.

The Chief Minister explained that YSR Village Health Clinics, to be manned by community health officers (CHOs), ANMs (Auxiliary Nurse and Midwives) and ASHA (Accredited Social Health Assistant) workers, would be equipped with 105 kinds of medicines, lab facilities to conduct 14 kinds of diagnostic tests and 936 Mobile Medical Units (104) with phone numbers and other details of the doctors displayed at the village secretariats.

Continuing his tirade against the opposition parties including Chandrababu Naidu, he said “Babus don’t know schemes, they know only scams. They are parasites feeding on others, and do not know don't know social justice. They are joining hands as wolves.”

The CM said, “What they don't have is what I have. God's grace and people's warm blessings. That's all I know.  Let me tell you straight.  I will do what I am told. If good things happen in your house, stay with me.”

Jagan Mohan Reddy asked the people to see the difference between the Telugu Desam and YSRC rules in fields of health, education etc. “While the TD and its foster son (Pawan Kalyan) are forging alliances for electoral gains with the support of the friendly media, I am only depending on my alliance with the people,” said the CM. He urged the people to stand by the YSRC in the next elections.