The Punjab government has taken special steps to provide better health services to the public and reduce the increasing burden on government hospitals. The government has approved 17 more medical services in private hospitals listed under the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Yojana. Along with this, the scope of the scheme has been expanded to include people living alone.
Punjab For countless families in the U.S., going to hospital is often associated with long queues, overcrowded wards and long waits for treatment. With an aim to reduce this burden, the state government has made access to health services easier.
Common people will get immediate treatment
Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said this will improve the availability of health services, especially in districts where specialist medical services are limited or patients are highly dependent on government hospitals. He said that this will reduce the pressure on big government hospitals, the waiting time will reduce and patients will be able to get timely treatment.
People will be able to get treatment near their homes instead of going to crowded big hospitals. Under the treatment of ear, nose and throat, surgeries like repair of nasal bone fractures and adenoidectomy can now be done in the empaneled private hospitals.
The field of general surgery has expanded the most. Hydrocele operations, ulcer treatment, appendix surgery and gallbladder surgery, both open and laparoscopic, will now be available in empaneled private hospitals under the scheme. This will reduce the waiting time of patients and they will get the benefit of treatment near their home.
Priority to women’s health services
Women’s health services have also been given special priority. This includes abortion procedures beyond 12 weeks, hysterectomy, hospitalization for pregnancy-related complications, and anesthesia for examining minor girls, unmarried sexually inactive women, and sexually abused women.
Now the needy and weaker sections will be able to get timely treatment more easily. Ophthalmological and orthopedic services have also been strengthened. Now eye related procedures like pterygium excision and entropion correction can be done in private hospitals also. Additionally, orthopedic patients will benefit from surgeries like tendon release, treatment of small joint injuries and surgery for ankle fractures. The package rates of these new procedures have been fixed from Rs 2,000 to Rs 27,800.
Senior citizens, widows also included
Now single individuals including senior citizens, widows and other independently living persons will also be able to avail the benefits of this scheme. This health insurance program available to all was earlier limited to families with two or more members. Now this will also benefit those parents whose children are living abroad.
To apply, it will be mandatory to submit Punjab Aadhar Card and Voter ID Card, while applicants below 18 years of age will have to provide birth certificate. Single individuals must submit a declaration form for nomination, which will be verified by local elected representatives.
Defense shield for the people of Punjab
According to the report of the State Health Agency, currently about 65 lakh families are covered under this scheme. At present, 824 hospitals including government, central government and listed private hospitals are providing treatment under this scheme. Covering approximately 2,300 diseases and medical procedures and the ever-growing Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana has become an important health protection shield for the people of Punjab, providing access to cashless treatment to more people than ever before.
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