CHANDIGARH, JUNE 4 — To minimize crowding at public tertiary medical centers, the Punjab government has authorized private empanelled hospitals to perform 17 treatments under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana that were previously restricted to state-run operations.
The decision introduces a diverse range of general surgery, ENT, and orthopedic options closer to patients’ homes. Under the new guidelines, individuals requiring care for hydroceles, abscess drainage, tendon releases, or ankle fractures can seek treatment within the private network. The health department affirmed that package rates for these treatments have been fixed across a pre-determined scale ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹27,800.
Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh maintained that the changes would significantly benefit districts where specialized public medical personnel are stretched thin.
“This is expected to reduce pressure on major government facilities, shorten waiting times, and improve access to timely care,” Singh asserted during the departmental announcement.
The expansion also fundamentally alters the scheme’s demographic reach by removing the multi-member family requirement. Senior citizens living independently, widows, and parents of children settled abroad are now eligible for the state’s cashless insurance cover.
To secure enrollment under the single-resident category, applicants must submit state identification documents, with minors requiring a birth certificate. Independent adults must provide a localized declaration that requires verification from municipal or village representatives.
Departmental data shows the overarching insurance framework now encompasses nearly 2,300 distinct medical procedures and illnesses across 824 participating institutions, providing a critical healthcare safety net for 65 lakh families statewide.
