Ahead of the Bhagwant Mann-led Punjab government’s move to open 400 more ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’ on 27 January, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday said this would lead to closure of the rural dispensaries in the state.

Castigating the AAP government for the “crumbling” rural healthcare in the state, BJP national spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill, citing media reports, quoted orders issued by the government to rationalise the medical staff, which would leave rural dispensaries without a doctor.

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In a statement, Shergill said in order to post staff at the proposed 400 ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’, the AAP Government has decided to rationalise staff at rural dispensaries run by panchayati raj and the Rural Development Department.

“This order is actually a move to shift doctors from rural dispensaries to Aam Aadmi Clinics. This would leave rural dispensaries without doctors, which would be nothing short of shutting down these dispensaries that came into existence decades back. It would mean the end of the health services in the rural areas, which would create havoc for the rural people,” he said.

Shergill said opening of 500 ‘Aam Aadmi Clinics’ (100 are already in operation) is a mere PR stunt to divert attention from the AAP Government’s neglect of Punjab healthcare.

The BJP spokesperson said before coming to power, the AAP had promised that they will ensure that rural people get good healthcare but after taking over the reins of Punjab, the rural healthcare has been utterly ignored.

“Instead of spending funds to the tune of crores on new clinics, its better is to upgrade the existing rural dispensaries,” he added.

Stating that the rural healthcare in the state is crippled, Shergill said despite being fully aware of this fact, the present AAP government is not doing anything to improve the rural healthcare.

“It was a matter of shame that rural Subsidiary Health Centres (SHCs) are in shambles and have no medicine supply to provide the patients visiting for OPD,” he added.

Shergill said for a long time, about 500 rural dispensaries did not have required medicine stock. In the absence of the medicines, patients are forced to buy medicines from chemist shops.