Chandigarh, October 28: The Punjab Government is set to expand its network of Aam Aadmi Clinics (AACs) to the state’s central jails, a move officials say aims to strengthen healthcare access for inmates and curb the spread of infectious diseases such as Hepatitis C and HIV.
Under the initiative, the government plans to establish AACs in all 10 central jails of Punjab. Each clinic will provide 107 types of free medicines and 47 diagnostic tests, bringing services that have so far benefited over 4.2 crore people in communities across the state into prison walls for the first time.
Health officials said the programme is part of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s broader healthcare push to make medical access universal. “We want to ensure that every person — whether in villages, cities or even prisons — receives timely and dignified healthcare,” an official from the Health Department said.
At present, Punjab has 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics, and the government has invited tenders for another 236. Once operational, the total will reach 1,117 clinics. These centers, launched to provide free primary healthcare and diagnostics, currently cater to about 73,000 patients daily, government data show.
The Health Department has already begun identifying space within jails for the new clinics. Though medical officers are posted round the clock in prisons, the addition of AACs is expected to strengthen preventive and primary healthcare.
Officials said the model will help detect and manage chronic illnesses earlier and reduce pressure on tertiary hospitals. “This expansion is about extending the same healthcare standards available outside to those inside the correctional system,” one official added.
Observers say the move could mark a shift in how prison healthcare is perceived, focusing not only on treatment but on prevention and dignity. By reaching inmates — one of the most underserved populations — the state hopes to set an example for inclusive healthcare governance.
