Access to Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) was limited to just 48 Primary Health Centres, forcing victims – often children, the elderly and daily wage workers – to travel long distances, wait for hours, lose wages and, in many cases, abandon the crucial five-dose vaccination schedule midway.
File Photo
Punjab has significantly strengthened its fight against rabies by expanding Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) services to all 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics across the state. This has ended years of limited access that forced dog bite victims to travel long distances and frequently discontinue treatment. With approx three lakh dog bite cases reported yearly, the state government’s action marks a major public health intervention under Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, aimed at ensuring timely, affordable, and community-level care.
Access to Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) was limited to just 48 Primary Health Centres, forcing victims – often children, the elderly and daily wage workers – to travel long distances, wait for hours, lose wages and, in many cases, abandon the crucial five-dose vaccination schedule midway. The gaps were systemic, and the human cost was severe.
Advertisement
Leveraging the expansive network of 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics established over the last three years, the Punjab Government has delivered one of its most consequential public health reforms by universalising ARV services at the primary care level.
Advertisement
On this, Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh stated, “Under the visionary leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, Punjab is committed to protecting every life through accessible and affordable healthcare. With nearly three lakh dog bite cases annually, expanding Anti-Rabies Vaccination services to 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics is a critical public health milestone.”
The Aam Aadmi Clinics, which together have already recorded over 4.6 crore OPD visits and treat nearly 70,000 patients every day, have emerged as the backbone of Punjab’s primary healthcare system. By integrating ARV services across all these clinics, the Mann Government has ensured that a dog bite no longer translates into panic, expense, or delay.
The impact has been swift and measurable. Over the last four months alone, an average of 1,500 dog bite patients have been reporting to Aam Aadmi Clinics every month. Crucially, patients are now able to start treatment within minutes of arrival, dramatically reducing the risk of rabies fatalities. Thousands are completing the full vaccination schedule, something that was far from guaranteed under the earlier hospital-centric model.
Advertisement
