Serious diseases worsen the financial condition of even well-to-do households. Hospitalization often means taking a hasty loan, mortgaging jewelery or seeing your life’s savings wiped out in a matter of days. Many families delay treatment in the hope that the condition will improve on its own, as the cost of treatment seems more burdensome than the disease itself.
According to a study published in ‘Applied Health Economics and Health Policy’ in 2021, people already felt that the cost of treatment in India falls heavily on families. Often pushes them into serious financial crisis. The study, based on national survey data, found that treatment of diseases like cancer and heart disease in India imposes a heavy financial burden on families, especially in private hospitals.
Guarantee to overcome economic crisis
Today Punjab A different picture seems to be emerging. ‘Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana’ has emerged as a quiet but impactful change in the healthcare experience of families. For the first time, many people are getting assurance that treatment will no longer mean financial crisis.
Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh said, our aim is that no person should be deprived of treatment just because of lack of money, from complex surgeries and heart disease treatment to dialysis, newborn care and treatment of serious diseases. The Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana of the Bhagwant Mann government provides cashless health coverage of up to ₹10 lakh per family per year to all genuine residents of Punjab, including middle class families, government employees and pensioners.
The scheme is being operated under the updated Health Benefit Package 2.2 framework, which includes approximately 2,300 health benefit packages. These facilities are available in 839 government and empaneled private hospitals. Apart from this, 98 special treatment packages have been reserved only for government hospitals.
More than 1.59 lakh beneficiaries treated so far
The effect of this scheme is now clearly visible. Till May 16, more than 1.59 lakh beneficiaries had been treated and more than 3.11 lakh procedures were completed. So far, assistance worth more than ₹522 crore has been given. There is a story behind every figure; of a farmer who did not have to sell his land to fund the surgery; of a child, whose treatment began without delay; And of the family that was saved from getting trapped in the cycle of debt after a serious illness.
From the busy streets of Ludhiana to the quiet villages of Tarn Taran, awareness about the scheme is also increasing rapidly. More than 43 lakh health cards have been issued so far, which shows the increasing confidence of the people. Districts like Ludhiana, Patiala and Jalandhar are seeing particularly strong enrollment as families are now coming forward not out of fear, but with preparation.
The most practical thing about this scheme is its simple process. Registration can be done at Common Service Centres, government hospitals, district offices and special camps. Simple documents like Aadhar Card and Voter Card are sufficient. The plan covers not only hospitalization expenses but also pre-treatment and post-treatment care, thereby providing relief from hidden expenses incurred after the illness.
Here’s how families in Punjab can save up to ₹10 lakh under the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana:
•Cashless treatment up to ₹10 lakh per year in government and empaneled private hospitals, thereby reducing direct medical expenses.
•Includes surgery, dialysis, cancer treatment, newborn care and emergency services
•Pre- and post-treatment expenses also covered, providing relief from hidden financial burden
•Simple registration process at local centers and government hospitals
•There is no need to take loan, sell property or borrow at high interest during illness.
Health experts believe that this scheme can gradually change the reality of health services in Punjab. In an area where private medical expenses have risen rapidly, this scheme provides not only wealth but also certainty, which is a rarer thing than wealth. And for millions of families, this certainty feels like breathing freely again after holding your breath for a long time.
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