CHANDIGARH, March 27, 2026: Punjab’s Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna has approved ₹292 crore worth of free medical treatment within three months of its rollout, with more than 30.51 lakh families brought under its coverage, Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh said Friday.
Providing an update on the scheme’s progress, Singh said the government has authorised 1.77 lakh treatments and processed 71,000 claims, positioning the initiative among the fastest-expanding public healthcare programs in the country.
Speaking at Punjab Bhawan, he said a majority of the approved treatment costs have already been cleared. “The total approved value of treatment stands at ₹292 crore, of which ₹267 crore has already been approved,” he said. “We have settled 71,000 claims and disbursed ₹60 crore to empanelled hospitals.”
Singh described the rollout as a significant administrative effort, stating that Punjab has performed strongly across key indicators. “By any parameter, registrations, families covered or patients treated, Punjab is number one,” he said.
The minister said the government has introduced a structured payment system to ensure hospitals receive dues on time. “All pending dues up to March 31 will be cleared by April 15. No hospital will have a single rupee pending from our side,” he stated.
Under the new framework effective April 1, claims up to ₹1 lakh will be processed within 15 days, while higher-value claims will be cleared within a week. Cases requiring verification will be resolved within a month, he said.
Singh said the scheme is delivering healthcare access across demographics and medical needs. “Beneficiaries range from a one-year-old infant to a 99-year-old grandmother who received cancer treatment,” he said, adding that complex cardiac procedures, including treatment for over 100 heart-related conditions, have been carried out.
He cited an instance in which a patient with a ruptured sinus was treated at Patiala Medical College under the scheme.
The minister added that the State Health Agency, in partnership with United India Insurance, is managing implementation to ensure coverage reaches beneficiaries without disruption, while also easing financial pressure on households.
