Family Doctor Scheme in AP Budget 2024-25 | Check Dr YSR Village Health Clinics (YVHC) Details

Andhra Pradesh government has launched a new Family Doctor Scheme for its citizens. Family Doctor programme is being implemented with the aim of improving health services particularly among rural population. This would be done by transforming existing sub-centres in villages into Dr YSR Village Clinics. Read this article till the end to know complete details about AP family doctor scheme as well as YSR Village Health Clinics (YVHCs).

Family Doctor Scheme in AP Budget 2024-25

Family Doctor project aims to provide better healthcare to people living in villages. On 7 February 2024, Finance Minister presented Andhra Pradesh Vote on Account Budget 2024-2025. In the presented AP Budget 2024-25, FM said "Our Chief Minister has conceptualised the idea of Family Doctor as an innovative program to take healthcare to doorstep of the people. About 284 family doctors, types of medical tests and types of medicines have been made accessible to the people". 

FM added "To complement the Family Doctor, the fleet of 108-Ambulances & Mobile Medical Units (104 Services) is expanded to ensure that there is minimum availability of 1 unit each per mandal".

About YSR Village Health Clinics (YVHC)

• AP state govt. has started AP Family Doctor Scheme to transform existing sub-centres in villages into YVHCs.
• Each YVHC will cover around 2,500 people in each village against the national average of one sub-centre for every 5,000 people.
• YVHCs will provide 14 types of tests and 105 types of medicines to people living within its area of operations.
• Each clinic will also undertake disease control programmes, antenatal, postnatal, and other treatments.
• Telemedicine facility (e Sanjeevini-GOI portal) is available in all AB-HWC to avail specialist services through district hub. 
• Health & Wellness sessions under Ayushman Bharath Health & Wellness concept are being conducted at these village clinics. 
• These Village clinics are integrated with Primary Health centres under Family Doctor Programme.
• Each mandal will have 2 PHCs. Each PHC will have two doctors, three nurses, pharmacist, lab technician and other staff.
• The two doctors, along with a mobile medical unit, will visit villages to conduct general check-ups on vulnerable people at Anganwadi centres, schools and other places.
• Besides this, doctors (with mobile medical unit) will reach out to doorsteps of patients having long-term illnesses.

Services List under AP Family Doctor Programme

• General OP.
• Ante natal care.
• Anganwadi visits.
• Anaemia Monitoring.
• Non communicable disease management. 
• Post natal care for mothers and new born.
• School visits.
• Home visit to bed ridden patients.
• Monitoring Village Sanitation in coordination with Panchayat.
• Others

Training Programme for Staff

For successful implementation of the Family Doctor Scheme, Health Department officials are conducting training programmes for staff at PHCs to train ASHA workers, MLHPs and ANMs. A 104 ambulance will visit every village twice a month to review the health of people in every village secretariat. Medical staff of the ambulance will diagnose and treat residents for minor illnesses like blood pressure and diabetes. Medical Staff will also disburse medicines required for the month.

Salient Features of Family Doctor Scheme in AP

• As a part of the Family Doctor Scheme, a team of 2 doctors from Primary Health Centre (PHC) along with a mobile medical unit will be made available to look after health needs of people in ward and village sachivalayam.
• The doctor will provide patient services for the residents of ward from 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m.
• Lunch breaks will be given from 12.30 p.m. to 1.30 p.m.
• Following the break, same doctor will visit again from 1:30 pm to 4:30 pm, to the patients who are severely sick and need of antenatal & postnatal care.

• Before Doctor's visit, ANMs, ASHA workers and Mid-Level Health Providers (MLHPs) will visit door-to-door and identify people who require doctor's services.
• Detailed list will be submitted by them to the doctor. PHC doctor will then visit these houses and deliver health services.
• Healthcare of all patients will be tracked under the family doctor scheme.
• Surgeries required, if any, will be performed under Aarogyasri scheme.
• Telemedicine hubs will also be opened where specialists will be available.
• Specialists will refer patients to area or district hospitals, or Aarogyasri network hospitals.

Source/Reference Link: https://interstatecouncil.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Andhra_Pradesh3.pdf