Pune: The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) will soon set up 10 polyclinics and 96 'aarogyawardhini kendras' or health and wellness centres (HWC) in the city. Most of these would come up in the newly merged areas.
These health centres and polyclinics would be funded by the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM). These HWC would cater to mental and physical preventive health care while the polyclinics would conduct specialised OPDs in the evening.
As per the NUHM programme, one polyclinic has been sanctioned for every 2.5-3lakh population. According to the 2011 census, the PMC has an estimated population of about 30lakh. The health and wellness centres will mainly conduct yoga and meditation sessions. The centres will also provide OPD services, health check-ups, routine immunisation, teleconsultation etc.
Dr Vaishali Jadhav, assistant health officer, said, “Altogether 28 HWCs were sanctioned last year and 96 HWCs this year. Of the 28, 9 are ready to be started and the civil works are pending in 19. Most of these are likely to come up in the newly merged areas. The expenses for furniture, manpower and rent for the place would be borne by the NUHM.”
She added, “The HWC would be manned by an MBBS doctor, a staff nurse, an attendant, a worker and a security guard plus sanitation workers.”
Dr Bhagwan Pawar, chief of the public health department, PMC, said, “Altogether, Rs3.1 crore has been sanctioned for these centres. The small clinics will focus on specialised OPDs and run for about three hours in the evening. We are identifying locations measuring at least 2500 square feet and ready to be used.”
“Apart from the health department, the estate, building, water and electricity departments have to ready the infrastructure following which the building can be used as a HWC or a polyclinic. The PMC chief has called for a meeting on Friday to decide on a specific deadline for each of the centres,” said another official from the health department.
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Read MoreSteffy Thevar is a Pune-based senior correspondent working for the Times of India. She writes on health, urban infrastructure and gender parity issues. She has worked in Mumbai for three years and shifted to Pune and covered the Covid19 pandemic. She had completed her masters in Journalism and Mass Communication from Savitribai Phule Pune University's department of Mass Communication and Journalism. She also writes on a range of issues including housing, human rights and environment.
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