TIRUPATI: Implementation of the Family Doctor programme, a brainchild of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, has started in Chittoor and Tirupati districts. It is aimed at providing better healthcare to people living in villages.
In Chittoor district, the concept has been set in motion in all 31 mandals, covering 48 primary healthcare centres (PHCs). In Tirupati district, it has been launched in 33 villages. Authorities will study the scheme under implementation and rectify shortcomings. The actual family doctor concept will start functioning from Sankranti in January 2023.
A senior official said: “The family doctor concept will transform rural healthcare with commencement of YSR Village Health Clinics (YVHCs). Existing sub-centres in villages and an additional 250 sub-centres will be transformed into YVHCs. Each YVHC will cater to about 2,000 people in each village against the national average of one sub-centre for every 5,000 people.”
According to officials, each YVHC clinic will be headed by a B. Sc. Nursing graduate designated as mid-level health provider, who will be assisted by an ANM and a team of ASHA workers. YVHCs will provide 14 types of tests and 67 types of medicines to people living within its area of operations. Each clinic will also undertake disease control programmes, antenatal, postnatal, and other treatments.
Each mandal will have two PHCs. Each PHC will have two doctors, three nurses, pharmacist, lab technician and other staff. The two doctors, along with a mobile medical unit, will visit villages to conduct general check-ups on vulnerable people at Anganwadi centres, schools and other places, besides reaching out to doorsteps of patients having long-term illnesses. Healthcare of such patients will be tracked under the family doctor concept. Surgeries required, if any, will be performed under Aarogyasri.
There will also be telemedicine hubs, where specialists will be available.
They will refer patients to area or district hospitals, or Aarogyasri network hospitals. A 104 ambulance will visit every village twice a month to review the health of people in every village secretariat. Medical staff of the ambulance will diagnose and treat residents for minor illnesses like blood pressure and diabetes. They will also disburse medicines required for the month.
