Punjab Newsline | Chandigarh
Under the Chief Minister Sehat Yojana, the government has approved 17 additional medical procedures to be carried out at empanelled private hospitals, while also expanding the scope of the scheme to include single individuals.
Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh said the move will significantly improve access to healthcare services, especially in districts where specialist facilities are limited or where government hospitals are overburdened.
He added that the expansion will reduce pressure on major government hospitals, shorten waiting times, and ensure timely treatment for patients.
The newly added procedures span multiple medical specialties, enabling patients to receive treatment closer to their homes instead of travelling to crowded tertiary care centres.
In the ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) category, procedures such as nasal bone fracture reduction and adenoidectomy can now be performed at listed private hospitals. These are common surgeries, particularly important for children and accident victims requiring timely intervention.
A major expansion has been made in general surgery services. Procedures including hydrocele surgery, abscess treatment, appendectomy, and both open and laparoscopic gallbladder surgeries have now been included under the scheme. Officials said this will help reduce patient waiting times and improve access to nearby treatment facilities.
The package rates for the newly approved procedures have been fixed between ₹2,000 and ₹27,800. According to the State Health Agency, around 65 lakh families are currently covered under the scheme.
At present, 824 hospitals—including government, central government, and empanelled private hospitals—are providing treatment under the scheme, which now covers approximately 2,300 diseases and medical procedures.
