Over 68,000 Kidney Patients on Lifeline Dialysis alongside Cancer, Cardiac & Paralysis Cases Fully Covered
CHANDIGARH, April 5: The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann is reshaping access to healthcare in Punjab by ensuring that treatment is no longer dictated by a family’s financial capacity. From critical neonatal care to complex surgeries and lifelong chronic treatments, the scheme is providing timely, cashless medical support to lakhs of families across Punjab.
When a premature baby was born at AIIMS Bathinda weighing under 1.5 kg and required mechanical ventilation to survive, his parents had only one responsibility, to stay by his side. The ₹4.35 lakh treatment cost was borne entirely by the Punjab Government. Across Punjab, over 2 lakh families have experienced similar relief, where treatment began immediately without loans, mortgages, or desperate calls for financial help.
The scheme has delivered over ₹300 crore in cashless healthcare, covering more than 2 lakh treatments, including over 40,000 surgical procedures, through a network of more than 900 empanelled government and private hospitals. Each of these numbers represents a family that did not have to choose between health and financial survival.
Sehat Yojna : Navdeep’s life saved: ₹4.6 Lakh treatment done for free!
Among the most commonly availed treatments are dialysis, cardiac procedures, orthopaedic surgeries, cancer care, and treatments for diabetes-related complications and respiratory illnesses, reflecting the scheme’s wide clinical coverage.
In one case, Navdeep Khan, diagnosed with Guillain-Barré Syndrome, a rare neurological condition in which the immune system attacks the nerves leading to sudden paralysis, underwent treatment costing ₹4.6 lakh at a hospital in Bathinda without paying anything. His case underscores that the scheme is not limited to routine procedures but extends to severe and unpredictable medical emergencies.
Chronic kidney disease presents a relentless challenge, requiring dialysis multiple times every week for life. Under the scheme, over 68,000 kidney patients across Punjab receive continuous dialysis treatment. The expenditure exceeds ₹14 crore. Without such support, families would face an impossible choice between financial ruin and survival.
Cancer care under the scheme has also been extensive. Over 14,000 treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation, and surgical oncology, have been delivered. The total cost exceeded ₹35 crore. This ensures that patients receive uninterrupted care through all stages of treatment.
Miracle at PGI: ₹4.41 Lakh Heart Operation absolutely free!
“The government has significantly expanded access to advanced cardiac care across the state. Surgeons at PGIMER Chandigarh successfully performed a double-switch cardiac operation. They also repaired the tricuspid valve. This is one of India’s most technically demanding heart surgeries. The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna fully covered the ₹4.41 lakh cost, which typically ranges from ₹5 lakh to ₹8 lakh in the private sector. To date, the scheme has funded over 5,700 cardiac procedures. These include angioplasties and permanent pacemaker implantations. Total expenditure has exceeded ₹47 crore.”
On this, Minister of Health and Family Welfare Dr Balbir Singh said, “Dialysis is not a condition that can wait. Heart disease and cancer cannot wait either. In just the past months, this scheme has funded over 68,000 dialysis sessions for kidney patients. That is not a statistic. That is 68,000 families who slept without fear. “Under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann, we ensure that medical need—not a family’s bank balance—guides every treatment.”
A significant indicator of the scheme’s impact is the growing volume of non-surgical and follow-up care. Patients are not entering the system only during emergencies but are continuing treatment over time. This reflects a behavioural shift, where people are seeking care earlier instead of delaying it due to financial constraints. This shift marks one of the most meaningful outcomes of the scheme.
The Bhagwant Mann Government continues to encourage residents to enrol for the Sehat Card at designated centres. They also promote registration through on-ground camps. This enables wider access to cashless treatment under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna.
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