Patiala, May 7 -- The Punjab health department is planning to open 208 Aam Aadmi Clinics (AACs) in urban areas across the state, officials said. A senior official, pleading anonymity, said the earlier plan to set up AACs at subdivisional and district hospitals (secondary health facilities) has been dropped. It has been learned that state health minister Dr Balbir Singh did not approve the plan.

The move had come under scrutiny given that AACs are a part of the primary health set-up aimed at providing basic health services to the scattered population at their doorsteps. The Punjab Civil Medical Services Association (PCMSA) had also opposed the move.

For the new plan, the health department has already asked deputy commissioners and civil ...