AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday praised Punjab’s maternal healthcare initiatives, describing the state’s Aam Aadmi Clinics as a strong example of “people-centric governance” that prioritises the needs of ordinary citizens. He highlighted that more than 20,000 pregnant women are now receiving quality, free prenatal care every month through these neighbourhood clinics.
In a post on X, Kejriwal said this approach reflects governance that brings essential services directly to people’s doorsteps. He emphasised that under the AAP-led government, healthcare delivery in Punjab is focused on dignity, safety and timely medical attention for expectant mothers, adding that the state is setting new standards in public healthcare outcomes.
Kejriwal’s comments came shortly after Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh shared details of a specialised, protocol-driven pregnancy care model rolled out around four months ago. According to the minister, nearly 20,000 pregnant women are now visiting Aam Aadmi Clinics every month, a sharp increase attributed to improved access, structured care pathways and better identification of high-risk cases.
Officials from the health department said the clinics provide comprehensive antenatal services free of cost. These include routine and critical screenings such as blood investigations, blood sugar and thyroid tests, HIV and syphilis screening, haemoglobin checks and foetal heart rate monitoring, all offered close to patients’ homes to reduce travel and financial burden.
For services like ultrasounds, which are not conducted on-site, doctors issue referral slips that allow pregnant women to get scans done free of charge at empanelled private diagnostic centres. In the last four months alone, over 10,000 women have availed of free ultrasound services under this arrangement, helping families save nearly Rs 1 crore in out-of-pocket expenses, officials said.
The structured care model has also strengthened early detection mechanisms. Around 5,000 high-risk pregnancies are being identified every month through these clinics, allowing for continuous monitoring and timely referrals to higher medical facilities when complications are detected.
Balbir Singh noted that the protocol-based approach has significantly widened access to antenatal care and improved referral systems, reinforcing maternal healthcare at the primary level. He added that the initiative addresses long-standing gaps in coverage and aims to reduce preventable complications during pregnancy.
Punjab sees approximately 4.3 lakh pregnancies each year, and earlier official data had pointed to gaps in antenatal coverage along with a maternal mortality ratio higher than the national average. The expanded role of Aam Aadmi Clinics is intended to directly address these challenges by strengthening care at the grassroots.
Over the past three years, the state has established 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics, which health officials describe as the foundation of Punjab’s primary healthcare system. These clinics collectively record more than 4.6 crore outpatient visits and treat close to 70,000 patients daily, providing a ready platform for expanded maternal and child health services.
Balbir Singh credited Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann for driving the initiative, calling the integration of pregnancy care into Aam Aadmi Clinics a transformative step that ensures consistent, high-quality care for mothers close to their homes.
