Punjab Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education & Research Minister Dr Balbir Singh today visited the Centre of Excellence for Autism and Neurodevelopmental Disorders (COEANDD, Mohali being run by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar State Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), Mohali. The Minister reviewed the functioning of the Centre and appreciated the quality of services being provided to children with Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Learning Disorders, Intellectual Disability, Cerebral Palsy and other neurodevelopmental conditions.
He was briefed about the Centre's multidisciplinary approach, which includes developmental assessment, psychological evaluation, speech and occupational therapy, physiotherapy, parent counselling, early intervention and school-readiness programmes. During the visit, Dr. Balbir Singh also interacted with parents of children receiving treatment at the Centre. Parents appreciated the child-friendly environment and dedicated services being provided by the team.
They informed the Minister that similar treatment in the private sector costs around Rs 30,000 to Rs 50,000 per month, while the Centre is providing these specialised services free of cost, bringing significant relief to families. The Minister reiterated the Punjab Government's commitment to strengthening early intervention, disability care and inclusive healthcare services across the state.
Chairman, Board of Management, AIMS, Dr. Bhagwant Singh, and Director-Principal Dr. Navdeep Singh Saini were also present. They apprised the Minister of the Centre's ongoing initiatives and future plans to further expand services and enhance parent support programmes.
The Centre team thanked the Health Minister for his encouragement and support and reaffirmed its commitment to developing the Centre into a model institution for autism and neurodevelopmental care in Punjab.