CHANDIGARH, May 9 — Punjab has achieved a major milestone in public health as more than 5,000 heart patients utilized the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana for emergency cardiac care. The program aims to combat the global trend of cardiovascular fatalities by providing immediate, cashless angioplasty to those in need, regardless of their financial standing.
The State Health Agency confirmed that the overwhelming majority of the ₹496 million spent under this scheme was dedicated to PTCA procedures. Out of the 5,054 recorded cases, 5,000 involved coronary angioplasty and diagnostic imaging. These figures reflect a growing infrastructure capable of handling high-stakes medical emergencies across various districts, reducing the need for dangerous long-distance referrals.
The Sehat Card is helping people get timely treatment, declared Dr. Saurabh Sharma, Associate Professor of Cardiology. He noted that the removal of the need for immediate funds allows doctors to act within the first 60 minutes of a cardiac event, which is the most effective window for intervention.
Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh affirmed that the state’s evolving healthcare system is actively addressing the rise in heart-related cases. In those critical moments, speed, supported by systems like the Sehat Card, is essential, the minister asserted. He stated that the impact of the Bhagwant Mann government’s policy is visible in the increasing number of patients who are successfully treated at empanelled facilities.
By eliminating the struggle to arrange funds during a medical crisis, the scheme has allowed cardiology units to refine their emergency protocols. This transformation has turned government facilities into centers capable of initiating complex procedures immediately, ensuring that a patient’s survival is not dictated by their ability to pay at the point of entry.
