Chandigarh, August 15: More than 3.02 lakh patients in Punjab have received free medical care through the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, resulting in over six lakh treatments delivered since the start of the year. State health department metrics highlight that 26.18 lakh beneficiaries have enrolled under the program, which guarantees cashless health coverage up to ₹10 lakh annually for eligible families.
The program has disbursed over ₹1,093 crore across network hospitals to fund complex procedures, emergency care, and chronic disease management.
“Cashless healthcare is giving Punjab families relief from high treatment costs,” Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh affirmed. He noted that chronic haemodialysis accounted for 1,99,417 treatments, while emergency medical interventions reached 1,85,220 cases.
Cardiovascular interventions formed a key share of clinical care, with 10,428 coronary angioplasty procedures executed alongside coronary artery bypass surgeries and pacemaker implantations. Major orthopedic surgeries included 11,796 knee replacements and 1,092 hip replacements, while cancer care accounted for 60,504 treatment instances statewide.
Distribution data shows strong utilization across districts, with Bathinda, Patiala, Amritsar, and Jalandhar recording the highest overall financial allocations. Private empanelled hospitals managed the larger share of treatments, providing care in 3,36,161 cases compared to 2,70,731 treated in public institutions.
Patients receiving specialized care emphasized the real-world impact of universal health coverage. Recounting his cardiac emergency, Hakam Singh of Patiala shared that immediate, cost-free hospital admission saved his life.
“I suddenly had pain in my chest,” he recalled, maintaining that free treatment allowed him to return home to live a happier life.
Highlighting the psychological relief provided by the initiative, Gurcharan Singh noted the severe anxiety families face during sudden health crises.
“We would have just died thinking about where we would get the money from,” he declared.
Cancer patient Nishi Gupta affirmed that ongoing medical care without out-of-pocket expenses has alleviated domestic stress, while Sandeep Kaur stated that post-treatment recovery has brought renewed optimism, demonstrating the scheme’s role in expanding healthcare access across Punjab.
