Chandigarh, July 24: The Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana has provided free medical care totaling more than 914 crore rupees to 5.12 lakh beneficiaries, expanding health coverage across urban and rural communities in Punjab.
“The Punjab Government is committed to ensuring quality healthcare access to every eligible family without financial hardship,” affirmed Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh while sharing progress figures.
Coverage under the initiative extends to approximately 25 lakh families, with rural residents comprising 68 percent of cardholders and women accounting for 52 percent of overall enrollment. Ludhiana leads district distribution with over 5.4 lakh e-cards, followed by Patiala, Jalandhar, and Hoshiarpur, with Patiala and Bathinda recording the highest volume of medical procedures.
“The scheme has enabled patients to avail life-saving and costly treatments without financial burden,” stated Dr. Balbir Singh. He declared that services cover major operations such as total hip replacements, coronary artery bypasses, angioplasty, and neonatal intensive care.
The health minister also noted that enforcement mechanisms are actively monitoring empanelled network hospitals to ensure seamless service delivery, leading to recent financial penalties and formal removals for non-compliant centers.
“If any hospital demands money during cashless treatment, asks patients to purchase items from outside or get tests conducted externally, they should report it,” maintained Dr. Balbir Singh, directing the public to utilize helpline 104 for grievances.
