AP launches 'family physician concept' in 3,160 village clinics

Tadepalli: The Andhra Pradesh government has taken a new approach to ensure better access to quality health care through the 'family physician concept' (FPC) with the aim to provide dedicated services and a special focus on reaching out to people even in the remotest areas. The FPC services have kickstarted under a trial run in 3,160 YSR village clinics, reaching out to 89,705 beneficiaries who have availed of the services.

As a part of FPC, Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy said the first step should be to eliminate anemia cases in the state. He further directed officials to prepare regular reports on air pollution, sanitation, drinking water, and cleanliness of toilets in schools and Anganwadis. These reports, he said, should be prepared regularly and immediate action should be taken on the issues identified.

Kagan reviewed the FPC and directed the officials to ensure doctors are available under any circumstances. To keep a check on this, the CM instructed them to install facial recognition for attendance and to make it mandatory. Every PHC will require 14 medical staff members in attendance. The officials said they are monitoring the operations through the mobile application.

Stressing the need to stock up on medicines at all village clinics, the CM said appropriate measures need to be taken to ensure there is no shortage of supply. The officials informed the CM that 67 types of medicines, along with 14 types of rapid diagnostic kits, are available at village clinics. As part of this, the officials also noted that the existing central drug stores are also being set up in new districts at the earliest. Reserve stock of fast-moving medicines shall be made available at the PHCs, they said.

Officials said they will monitor the distribution, storage, and shortage of medicines. The CM instructed them to come up with a plan to have a mandal-level supervision of the staff working in the medical and health department.