Being diagnosed with cancer is a very scary experience. For many families, this fear deepens when the next question is not only whether this disease is curable, but also whether we will be able to afford the treatment? The Chief Minister Health Scheme of the Bhagwant Mann government is trying to address this concern.
State Health Agency (SHA), Punjab According to the data, till July 18, 2026, cashless treatment was provided to 8,069 cancer patients under the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana, on which the government spent a total of ₹ 20.22 crore. Dr. Balbir Singh appealed to people not to ignore warning signs like lumps in the body, unexplained weight loss, abnormal bleeding, prolonged cough or changes in the normal process of excretion.
Every delay in treatment is costly for life
There are thousands of families who have to take important decisions during the most difficult times of life; When every delay in treatment can cost the patient’s life. Today, modern medical methods like surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, immunotherapy and targeted therapy in the treatment of cancer have increased the chances of recovery of patients much more than before. But this progress in medicine is meaningful only when the patient can access treatment on time.
The data related to the age of the beneficiaries also brings out an important fact. Cancer is generally associated with old age, but the scheme’s statistics show that there are a large number of patients who are suffering from this disease in their working age. Of the 8,069 patients who received treatment under the scheme, 4,285 patients were in the age group of 36 to 60 years, which was the largest group. Apart from this, 3,376 patients were above 60 years of age, 399 patients were in the age group of 17 to 35 years and 9 patients were below 17 years of age.
Health plan is a big support in economic crisis
Cancer treatment can cause sudden financial crisis for any family. Treatment of this disease requires frequent hospital visits, expensive medical procedures and long-term care. Many times, even if the disease is curable, the cost determines how soon the patient will be able to start treatment.
Samana resident Darshan Devi also faced the same concern. After increasing pain, doctors advised surgery, but the estimated expense of Rs 4 to 5 lakh increased the concern of his family. After getting approval under the Chief Minister Health Scheme, his cancer surgery was done without any out-of-pocket expense. For them, the scheme was not just a health facility, it also removed the biggest hurdle standing between diagnosis and timely treatment—the cost of treatment.
Cancer treatment statistics in Punjab show that the need for cancer treatment remained consistent throughout the year. 842 patients were treated in January, which increased to 1,080 in February, 1,175 in March and 1,350 in April. In May this number decreased slightly to 1,275, but in June the maximum number of 1,468 patients were treated. In the first 18 days of July itself, 879 patients had received treatment under this scheme.
The increasing need for cancer treatment also reflects a major health challenge facing the country.
According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), about 14.6 lakh new cancer cases were estimated in India in the year 2022 and this number is likely to increase further in the coming years. Changing lifestyle, increasing age and better testing facilities are the main reasons for this increasing burden.
Cancer is a deadly disease
However, figures alone do not tell the whole picture. Cancer is a disease in which time often decides the outcome of treatment. If there is a delay in diagnosis or treatment, the disease can become serious and treatment can become more complex and expensive. At such a time, it becomes an additional struggle for families already facing mental stress to meet the treatment expenses.
Since the launch of the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana on January 8, 2026, a total of 2,68,274 beneficiaries have received treatment under the scheme. During this period, a total of 5,31,386 treatment cases have been registered under the scheme. By July 20, 2026, the total value of treatment provided under the scheme has reached ₹ 950.35 crore.
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh said that the objective of the Bhagwant Mann government is to ensure that financial difficulties do not become a hindrance in the cancer treatment of any patient through the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana. He said, cancer is becoming one of the biggest public health challenges of our time.
With timely diagnosis and prompt treatment, patients’ chances of recovery significantly increase. Through Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana, quality cancer treatment is being provided to eligible patients, so that they do not have to worry about the cost of treatment.
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