CM Jagan to launch family doctor programme today

Vijayawada: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy will officially launch the Family Doctor programme -- a major initiative of his government -- at Lingamguntla in Chilakaluripet mandal of Palnadu district on April 6, Thursday, with the aim of expanding the medical and health services to the doorsteps of every family in the state.

The scheme also aims to provide the services of specialist doctors to all families.

The Family Doctor concept was Jagan Mohan Reddy's own brainchild. Trial runs have already been conducted step-by-step and it has been a reigning success. As many as 2,873 doctors and 15,516 medical staff are forming part of the family doctor initiative across 26 districts.

Health minister Vidadala Rajini said the Family Doctor Programme is a role model for the country in preventive care. CM Jagan Mohan Reddy formally will inaugurate the Family Doctor programme in Lingamguntla village and address a public meeting there.

She said the aim is to provide free medical treatment in every village without the people having to go to doctors for treatment. Good modern medicine would be supplied to all the needy patients, free of charge, in the village where they live. Necessary medical treatment would be given to the bed-ridden patients in each village, right inside their homes.

 Minister Rajini said that there would be at least two PHCs for each mandal, two doctors in each PHC, with one 104 vehicle linked to each. If one doctor is in the PHC, the other doctor will visit the YSR village clinic, school and Anganwadi centres in the assigned villages every day and provide medical services.

Each doctor visits the village assigned to him at least twice a month and provides medical services. When a doctor visits the same patient in the same village many times, the bonding between the patient and the doctor is formed. The doctor will gain a complete understanding of the patient's health profile and this makes it easier for him or her to provide better treatment.

 Officials said that, for the Family Doctor programme, 936 mobile medical units (104 ambulances) were specially made available by the government to provide medical services by connecting these with 10,032 YSR village clinics and with the cooperation of CHO, ANM and Asha workers of family doctor village clinics.

Fourteen types of tests and 105 types of medicines are available in each village clinic. Patients who need better treatment are referred to Aarogyasri hospitals through the Family Doctor YSR Health Clinic.

Patients treated by Aarogyasri are also provided with post-treatment follow-up by the family doctor and Aarogyasri referral services at the village clinic.

The medical services provided by family doctors are: General Medical Services, Maternal Healthcare Services, Infant Healthcare Services, Anaemia Tests and Treatment, Health Tests and Treatment for Non-Communicable Diseases, School Medical Programme, Anganwadi Centre Visit and Home Visit for Bedridden Patients.

Further, there will be treatment of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as BP, diabetes, heart disease, cancer identified through chronic disease survey, regular follow-up and preventive health services to monitor disease progression.