CHANDIGARH, March 30— Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh on Sunday condemned what he described as a deliberate campaign to malign Punjab’s flagship health insurance scheme. Responding to allegations of service denial, the Minister asserted that the opposition is distorting facts by highlighting cases from hospitals that have chosen not to enroll in the government’s ₹10 lakh health program.
During a press briefing, Dr. Balbir Singh stated that presenting isolated incidents from non-empanelled hospitals as failures of the scheme is factually incorrect and misleading. He maintained that the initiative has been a success, with the state already clearing treatments worth ₹292 crore for over 1.72 lakh beneficiaries. The Minister called for a public apology from opposition leadership, asserting that their rhetoric creates unnecessary panic among poor families who rely on the state for medical security.
MLA and AAP spokesperson Kuldeep Singh Dhaliwal also criticized the opposition, stating that traditional party leaders are prioritizing headlines over public interest. He affirmed that while Punjab has thousands of medical centers, only those on the official panel are authorized to provide cashless treatment. Dhaliwal maintained that the opposition’s failure to understand basic governance protocols was a source of embarrassment for the state’s political discourse.
The administration affirmed that the ₹10 lakh health insurance scheme remains fully operational and effective. Officials stated that the government would continue to expand the network of approved hospitals to ensure that no eligible resident is deprived of quality healthcare due to a lack of information or political misinformation.
