‘Family doctor’ system to provide medical services to rural areas

Vijayawada: If medical services can be provided extensively at the village level, most of the health issues can be overcome. Hence the government introduced the Family Doctor system in AP.

This was noted by principal Secretary to Medical & Health and Family Welfare, Krishna Babu, while addressing a video conference with district health officials and CHC staff on Monday.

He said the Family Physician concept being introduced by chief minister Jagan Reddy across the state was expected to bring about a revolutionary change in the health care sector.

“The basic infrastructure required for the family physician is being provided. For each PHC, two health officials are being appointed and vacant posts shall be filled.”

All the super specialty doctors posts will be filled as also those of para-medical staff. Community health officers should work with dedication. For providing health care at village secretariat level, YSR Health clinics have come handy. At a few places, construction of own buildings was completed and all YSR Village clinics will be complete by November end.

Two PHCs are being set up in each mandal and two doctors will be available in each PHC. Of the two doctors, one will be taking care of a mobile unit and the other the PHC.

In each clinic, 87 different medicines are made available and 14 medical tests can be done. In a few clinics, medicines and tests were already being carried out. At present, there are 636 mobile vehicles and 454 vehicles will be purchased soon for this sector.

Babu said the villagers will be informed one day in advance before the mobile vehicle visits the village. MLHPs, ANMs and ASHA workers will alert the people in the villages who require medical care. Pregnant women, lactating mothers and others can visit the mobile unit. Besides, in villages, tests will be conducted for students in schools. Bedridden patients getting treatment under Aarogyasri will get treatment from the mobile units.

Health commissioner J Nivas, APVVP commissioner Vinod Kumar, Aarogyasri COO Harisder Prasad, Health director Swarajya Lakshmi, NHM CEO Ganapathi Rao and others were present.