Mohali:
Punjab Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education & Research Minister Dr Balbir Singh on Thursday visited the Center of Excellence for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (COEANDD) in Mohali, which is being run by Dr. BR Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences.
During the visit, the Minister reviewed the functioning of the Centre and appreciated the services being provided to children suffering from Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, learning disorders, intellectual disability, cerebral palsy and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
Officials briefed the Minister about the Centre’s multidisciplinary approach, which includes developmental assessment, psychological evaluation, speech therapy, occupational therapy, physiotherapy, parent counselling, early intervention and school-readiness programmes.
Dr Balbir Singh also interacted with parents of children undergoing treatment at the Centre. Parents praised the child-friendly environment and dedicated services being offered by the team. They informed the Minister that similar treatment in the private sector costs nearly ₹30,000 to ₹50,000 per month, whereas the Centre is providing specialised services free of cost, offering major relief to families.
Reiterating the Punjab Government’s commitment towards inclusive healthcare, the Minister said the state is focused on strengthening early intervention and disability care services across Punjab.
Chairman of the Board of Management, AIMS, Dr. Bhagwant Singh, and Director-Principal Dr. Navdeep Singh Saini were also present during the visit. They briefed the Minister about the Centre’s ongoing initiatives and future plans aimed at expanding services and enhancing parent support programmes.
The Centre’s team thanked the Health Minister for his support and reaffirmed its commitment to developing the institution into a model centre for autism and neurodevelopmental care in Punjab.
