Manjeet Singh, 58, of Fazilka district, kept ignoring the chest pain for several weeks, considering it to be normal fatigue. But when chest pain started recurring and he started feeling uneasy even after walking a short distance, he got himself medically examined. The investigation revealed that there was a blockage in a coronary artery of his heart and required immediate treatment. Within a few hours he was taken to the catheterization lab, where doctors performed angioplasty and inserted a stent and normalized blood flow to his heart.
While Manjit Singh’s case highlights the importance of timely treatment, official statistics also show that cardiovascular diseases are affecting a large number of young people. Young adults in the age group of 17 to 35 years have recorded the largest share among the beneficiaries receiving cashless heart treatment under the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana. This shows the importance of timely screening and availability of specialist cardiovascular services in youth.
Complaints of constant chest pain, shortness of breath
heart disease Usually doesn’t come without any warning. Its main signs can be persistent chest pain, shortness of breath, unusual fatigue or pain spreading to the hands, jaw or back. But people often ignore these symptoms until the situation becomes a serious medical emergency. Doctors say that by identifying these warning signs in time and getting immediate treatment, the chances of saving life and preventing permanent damage to the heart increases significantly.
This challenge is continuously increasing in India. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), in the last three decades, heart and blood vessel diseases have become the leading cause of illness and death in the country. Conditions like rapid urbanization, inactive lifestyle, unbalanced diet, tobacco consumption, diabetes and high blood pressure have made this problem more serious. Although advances in cardiovascular medicine have increased the chances of survival for patients, the high cost of treatment still puts life-saving treatment out of reach for many families.
Many such families in Punjab
For patients like Manjeet Singh, the biggest challenge was not medical, but financial. Many families in Punjab who face heart-related emergencies are receiving timely treatment under the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana. This scheme covers the entire cost of cardiac treatment for eligible patients. By removing the burden of heavy hospital bills, this scheme is enabling patients to get treatment on time instead of postponing treatment due to financial constraints.
The impact of the scheme is also assessed by the data released by the State Health Agency (SHA), Punjab. Till July 15, 2026, cashless heart treatment has been done to 135 patients under the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana, for whose treatment an assistance of Rs 2.71 crore has been provided. These treatments include surgery for congenital heart defects, heart valve disorders and other complex heart diseases. These figures reflect the growing need for specialist cardiovascular services and also highlight the important role funding plays in ensuring timely life-saving treatment.
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh said that heart disease is one of the most serious public health challenges today, but many deaths can be prevented through awareness, timely screening and prompt medical attention. He appealed to people not to ignore persistent chest pain, shortness of breath, unusual fatigue or other warning signs, as seeking timely medical help can save lives.
No family should be forced to delay life-saving heart treatment due to financial constraints, he said. Through Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana, we are ensuring that eligible patients get access to quality heart care at the right time without worrying about the cost of treatment. Timely diagnosis and treatment saves lives and it is our commitment to ensure that such health services reach every eligible family in Punjab.
Heart disease is still the country’s biggest health challenge.
Dr. Karandeep Singh Sayal, Consultant Cardiologist and Head of the Department of Cardiology, My Hospital, Mohali (Indus Network Hospital), said that heart disease is still one of the biggest health challenges in the country. In cases of congenital heart defects and other complex heart diseases, a large number of treatments are required. However, timely diagnosis and treatment can save many lives.
Dr. Karandeep Singh Sayal said that due to financial security, patients come forward to get treatment without delay, due to which the results of treatment are better and the patients recover quickly. Besides, prevention is our strongest defense, he said. Adopting a heart-healthy lifestyle, doing regular physical activity, controlling blood pressure and diabetes and getting heart checkups done from time to time can reduce the risk of serious heart diseases to a great extent.
Today Manjeet Singh is living a healthy life with his family and is grateful that his medical crisis did not turn into a financial crisis. His story is the story of many people of Punjab who have been able to get timely heart related treatment under this scheme. Manjeet Singh said, the biggest consolation is not only that better medical facilities are available, but the fact that whether we get timely treatment or not does not depend on our financial capacity.
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