Punjab Newsline | Patiala
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh on Thursday said the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana, launched under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, has emerged as a game-changer in the state's healthcare sector by providing cashless treatment worth over ₹914 crore to 5.12 lakh patients within just six and a half months of its launch.
Addressing a press conference in Patiala while releasing the latest performance figures, the Health Minister said that more than 50.3 lakh e-Health Cards have already been issued under the scheme, enabling patients to access expensive and life-saving treatments without any financial burden. He reiterated that the Punjab Government is committed to ensuring quality healthcare for every eligible family without financial hardship.
Dr. Balbir Singh said the scheme has significantly strengthened universal health coverage by offering free, cashless healthcare services through a network of 868 empanelled government and private hospitals across the state. So far, 2.50 lakh families have benefited from the initiative, while nearly 1.65 lakh beneficiaries have undergone surgeries.
Highlighting the scheme's impact, the minister said 733 cancer patients have received treatment, while thousands of beneficiaries have availed services including knee replacement surgeries, angioplasty, coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG), hip replacement, gall bladder operations, kidney procedures, chronic haemodialysis, neonatal intensive care, eye surgeries, and several other critical healthcare packages.
He noted that the scheme has ensured balanced participation between public and private healthcare institutions. Government hospitals have delivered 2.29 lakh treatments (45%), while private hospitals have provided 2.83 lakh treatments (55%), greatly expanding access to quality healthcare across Punjab.
Expressing concern over the exclusion of PGIMER Chandigarh from the scheme, Dr. Balbir Singh termed it an injustice and discriminatory towards the people of Punjab, stating that the premier institute should have been included to further strengthen healthcare access.
The Health Minister said the initiative has protected families from mental stress, financial hardship and debt caused by expensive medical treatment. Currently, 24.96 lakh families are covered under the scheme. Among the total beneficiaries, 24.3 lakh (48%) are men and 26 lakh (52%) are women, while 68% belong to rural areas and 32% are from urban regions.
Sharing district-wise data, he said Ludhiana has issued the highest number of e-Health Cards with 5.46 lakh cards covering 2.69 lakh families, followed by Patiala (4.56 lakh cards), Jalandhar (3.69 lakh cards) and Hoshiarpur (3.45 lakh cards). In terms of treatments provided, Patiala and Bathinda are leading the state.
State Health Agency Deputy CEO Dr. Andesh Kang, Additional Deputy Commissioner (General) Anuprita Johal, and Civil Surgeon Dr. Shaily Jetley were also present during the press conference.
