Chandigarh, April 1: Punjab’s health insurance coverage has seen a rapid spike following the activation of the state’s ASHA worker network for the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh maintained on Wednesday that the involvement of 19,000 frontline workers has been instrumental in bridging the gap between government policy and rural households, resulting in 10 lakh enrollments within less than three weeks.
The ASHA-led model focuses on personalized guidance, where workers navigate families through the verification and registration stages to prevent delays. Dr. Balbir Singh asserted that this door-to-door strategy is transforming the healthcare landscape in Punjab by delivering a “healthcare guarantee” directly to the citizens. He noted that the state is currently issuing an average of 50,000 new cards daily to meet the rising demand for cashless medical services.
“This is not just a scheme on paper, it is a guarantee we are delivering directly to people, one household at a time,” the Minister declared. He highlighted that the program is backed by a robust infrastructure, including 900 facilitators who coordinate the technical aspects of the drive. The administrative report confirmed that over 40,000 surgeries have already been performed under the scheme, covering critical care areas like dialysis and emergency interventions.
To support the continued growth of the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, the Punjab government has earmarked Rs 2,000 crore in the latest state budget. This funding is intended to sustain the high volume of treatments, which have already surpassed the Rs 300 crore mark in total value. Authorities continue to encourage residents to visit local camps and enrollment centers to secure their Sehat Cards and access the available cashless benefits.
