Mann Government’s Major Decision: Free Dog Bite Treatment Now Available at Mohalla Clinics

Chandigarh — In a historic step aimed at improving public healthcare, the Punjab government under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has announced that treatment for dog bites will now be provided free of cost at all Mohalla Clinics across the state.

Until now, people had to pay high fees at private hospitals or make long visits to large government facilities to get anti-rabies treatment. This new initiative ensures that anti-rabies injections will be available completely free of charge at neighborhood clinics, bringing urgent care closer to communities.

This service is more than just a healthcare upgrade—it reflects the government’s promise that “healthcare is a right, and the government’s responsibility.” Previously, this treatment was only offered at district or sub-divisional hospitals. Now, Mohalla Clinics have been strengthened enough to handle such emergencies as well.

Currently, in private hospitals, anti-rabies injections cost between ₹350 to ₹800 per dose, with a full treatment course ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹4,000. This entire treatment will now be provided without any cost to patients at government-run Mohalla Clinics.

Additionally, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government is launching a phased, statewide free vaccination campaign, ensuring that no one is left untreated due to delays or lack of access.

There are currently over 880 Mohalla Clinics operational across Punjab—565 in rural areas and 316 in urban regions—with more opening regularly. These clinics have already served over 13 million people, and more than 37 million OPD visits have been recorded. Under the previous government, annual OPD numbers were just 3.4 million; today, they have jumped to 17.7 million—a 4.5x increase.

Mohalla Clinics currently offer:

• Free doctor consultations
• 107 essential medicines
• Over 100 diagnostic tests
  These include diagnostics for typhoid, HbA1c, hepatitis, dengue, HIV, pregnancy tests, and all types of ultrasounds—all at no cost. With this new step, life-saving injections will now also be part of the services.

Among the beneficiaries, 56% are women, 44% men, with 25% elderly and 18% children receiving care. So far, more than 15 million free diagnostic tests have been conducted, saving the public thousands of crores in out-of-pocket expenses.

Punjab has also become the first state in India to offer universal free health insurance up to ₹10 lakh per citizen. No poor person, farmer, laborer, or middle-class family will have to take loans for hospital treatment—the entire cost will be borne by the government. Unlike private insurance with hidden terms, this is people’s insurance, with the premium paid by the government itself.

In Punjab today, healthcare is no longer a burden—it is a right. And the Mann government has taken full responsibility for ensuring it. This is not just a health policy—it’s a declaration of intent: that every Punjabi, whether in a village or a city, rich or poor, will receive quality treatment.

Punjab is now setting an example for the rest of the country—where governance doesn’t just live on paper, but stands firmly with the people in real life. This is true public service. This is the new Punjab.