Punjab to Launch Aam Aadmi Clinics Inside Jails to Boost Inmate Health and Rehabilitation

Chandigarh, October 27, 2025: In a landmark move to integrate healthcare and rehabilitation, the Bhagwant Singh Mann-led Punjab government is set to launch a pilot project to establish Aam Aadmi Clinics within central jails across the state. The initiative aims to provide inmates with holistic medical care, including much-needed mental health support.

Announcing the project, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh said that while treating physical ailments is essential, addressing the psychological well-being of inmates is equally critical. “We recognise that many who are behind bars are mentally disturbed, which can be a factor in them committing crimes,” he noted.

Calling prisons “Sudhar Ghars” (reform homes), Dr. Singh emphasized that the true purpose of justice lies in reforming lives rather than merely punishing offenders. “When an inmate leaves the jail, they should be healthy in both body and mind. This holistic reform is essential for realising Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann’s dream of a ‘Rangla Punjab’,” he said.

The minister revealed that qualified psychologists and psychiatrists will be stationed at these jail-based clinics to offer psychosocial counselling and therapy sessions. This marks a significant policy shift toward rehabilitative justice in the state’s prison system.

The decision follows the remarkable success of 881 Aam Aadmi Clinics already operational in Punjab, which have provided free treatment to over 4.20 crore people since their launch on August 15, 2022. These clinics have conducted over 2.29 crore diagnostic tests at no cost and provide 107 types of free medicines along with 47 free diagnostic tests, including those for pregnancy, Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, and Dengue.

Dr. Singh added that extending these clinics to correctional facilities would ensure that every citizen, regardless of circumstance, has access to quality healthcare. The pilot project will initially cover select central jails before being expanded across the state based on its success.