PUNJAB BECOMES FIRST STATE WHICH LAUNCHED CARE COMPANION PROGRAMME FOR MEDICAL & SURGICAL IN-PATIENT CARE: BALBIR SINGH SIDHU

CHANDIGARH, JULY 2, 222019: Punjab today becomes the first state in the country which has started the Care Companion Programme in all medical and surgical care units in district hospitals across the state for Medical & Surgical in-patient care. Second phase of this programme was today launched by Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu, Health and Family Welfare Minister during a simple but impressive function organized at Hotel Mountview Chandigarh.

In his keynote address Mr. Sidhu said that through this programme, relatives of medical and surgical patients would be trained on how to care for their loved ones while still in hospitals, so that patients have smoother transitions and better outcomes at home. This would result in better practice of healthy behaviors such as healthy diet, exercise, hygiene and is aimed at decreasing post-discharge complications.

Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu said that due to its success, this simple yet powerful program is being expanded to other areas of patient care. The Department of Health and Family Welfare, Punjab has decided to expand the program across all medical and surgical care units in district hospitals across the state. He said that being the pioneering state in the country for this type of initiative, Punjab is showing how a simple program that engages families in their own health can improve the health outcomes of patients across the state

Mr. Amit Kumar, Special Secretary Health and Mission Director, National Health Mission, Punjab while speaking to the audience said that the program is aimed at improving patient outcome through better patient- family caregiver engagement and training. He said that the flagship program was launched in 2017 in the area of Maternal Child Health (MCH). After a successful pilot, the MCH program was expanded in September 2018 across all the districts of the state, under this programme untill now more than 60,000 family members have been trained. He said that the program has shown impressive results, including an increase in the number of families practicing correct health behaviors at home and a decrease in severe complications after a medical treatment

Dr.Baljit Kaur, State Programme Officer, Care Companion Programme while delivering vote of thanks said that the Care Companion Program (CCP) is a Government of Punjab initiative which is inspired by Noora Health with technical support from Yos-Aid Innovation Foundation.

Dr. Jaspal Kaur, Director Health Services, Punjab, Dr. Shahed Alam, President &Co-founder of Noora Health and Mr. Anand Kumar H G from Yos-Aid Innovations Foundation also graced the occasion.