SAS Nagar (Gurpreet Singh): A serious illness can push an ordinary family into financial uncertainty, but in Punjab, a ₹10 lakh healthcare safety net is now reaching millions of households. At the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna Card Distribution Ceremony in Mohali, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann highlighted how 1.26 crore health cards have provided security cover to 54 lakh families, with ₹1,310 crore already spent on the treatment of more than 7 lakh patients under the scheme.
Calling it the world’s only unconditional and completely free healthcare scheme, the Chief Minister said the initiative ensures that families can access treatment without worrying about the cost, while Aam Aadmi Clinics are further strengthening affordable healthcare across the state. He said the government’s larger objective is to ensure every citizen remains healthy and build a ‘Rangla Punjab’.
Taking to X, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann stated: “Today, at the ‘Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna Card Distribution Ceremony’ in Mohali, I shared my thoughts with the people. Providing quality healthcare facilities to the people of Punjab is the top priority of our government. Today, health cards were distributed to beneficiaries, giving every family access to free treatment worth up to ₹10 lakh. The people attending the event also wholeheartedly appreciated this initiative of the government. Our goal is to keep every citizen healthy and create a ‘Rangla Punjab’. Inquilab Zindabad.”
Addressing the gathering during the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna card distribution function here, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said that the scheme provides cashless treatment of up to ₹10 lakh without charging beneficiaries a single penny. “While people in many foreign countries have to purchase health insurance and pay a premium before accessing medical facilities, Punjab is providing cashless treatment of up to ₹10 lakh without putting any financial burden on the beneficiaries,” he said.
The Chief Minister affirmed, “Our objective is not merely to provide treatment but to ensure that no family is forced into debt or financial distress because of illness. Healthcare should not become a luxury available only to those who can afford it.”
He said, “In foreign countries, people generally have to purchase health insurance by paying a premium. In Punjab, our government is providing this health facility without putting any such financial burden on the people. We have ensured that people can access treatment without worrying about whether they have money in their pockets. No family should have to postpone or abandon treatment because of financial constraints.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Expensive treatment can push a poor family into a situation where it has to choose between an unaffordable medical bill and life. We have changed this situation. Today, people can get treatment from a government or private hospital of their choice. This scheme provides cashless treatment of up to ₹10 lakh and is a major step towards providing both health and financial security to the people of Punjab. There are no conditions for availing its benefits.”
The Chief Minister said, “Our government’s healthcare initiative represents our broader philosophy of putting the common man at the centre of governance. We understand the difficulties faced by ordinary people because our policies are designed around their everyday needs.”
Taking a dig at his political opponents, he said, “If the treatment is right, there is no need to change the doctor. Similarly, if the government is people-oriented, there is no need to change it.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “The transformation is not restricted to healthcare. The colours of ‘Rangla Punjab’ have started becoming visible across different sectors. Punjab is a blessed land with immense potential and we are working to realise the dreams of Shaheed Bhagat Singh by creating opportunities for our people within the state.”
The Chief Minister said, “We want to carve a happy, prosperous and vibrant Punjab. We do not want a California. We want Punjab to become strong on its own soil so that our young people can build their future here.”
Highlighting the financial relief being provided through various government initiatives, he said, “Schemes such as the Maavan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna, free bus travel scheme, regulation of private school fees, Meri Rasoi Scheme, Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna and others are collectively providing substantial savings and benefits to families. According to our assessment, every family is benefiting by around ₹1.82 lakh annually, while for some families the total benefit is as high as ₹2.72 lakh. These initiatives are aimed at putting money back into the hands of the common man by reducing expenditure on essential services.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Our healthcare infrastructure has also been strengthened through a network of 1,100 Aam Aadmi Clinics. These clinics have recorded around 5.5 crore OPD visits, which reflects how primary healthcare services have been brought closer to residential areas. People should not have to travel long distances for basic healthcare. Aam Aadmi Clinics have taken healthcare facilities closer to their homes and made them accessible to ordinary families,” he said.
The Chief Minister also announced that a three-month instalment under the Mawan Dheeyan Satkar Yojna will be released on October 1. “We are committed to supporting our beneficiaries and ensuring that the benefits of our schemes reach people at the grassroots level,” he said.
Taking a dig at opposition parties, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Those who failed to provide meaningful relief to ordinary people are now questioning schemes that are directly benefiting families. People can themselves see the difference between governments that merely made announcements and a government that is delivering benefits at the grassroots level.”
The Chief Minister also hit out at the Centre, saying, “The Centre has withheld funds due to Punjab, but we have not stopped providing facilities to the people. Despite this, we have continued our welfare initiatives and development works.”
He said, “We have plugged leakages and ensured that public money is used for public welfare. We have never said that the treasury is empty. Instead, we have ensured optimum utilisation of government resources.”
“We are also honouring our commitments towards employees and ensuring payment of their legitimate dues,” he said.
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann further announced that government employees will also receive a Diwali gift.
“Under previous governments, powerful people benefited from government schemes. Our government is working to ensure that the benefits reach ordinary citizens,” he said.
Highlighting the government’s work in the education sector, CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Punjab was earlier ranked 27th in education. Today, Punjab has reached the first position, even moving ahead of Kerala. Our education reforms are aimed at giving students better infrastructure, quality teaching and improved learning opportunities. Punjab’s achievements are not confined to the education sector. The sacrifices made by Punjabis for the country, our contribution to India’s food security and our achievements in sports are unmatched.”
“Punjabis have always remained at the forefront and have proved their mettle in every field,” he said.
The Chief Minister said, “Punjab’s sporting culture is once again being strengthened through initiatives such as ‘Khedan Watan Punjab Diyan’, in which lakhs of players are participating. The fact that four national teams have Punjabi captains is a reflection of Punjab’s deep-rooted sporting talent and contribution to Indian sports.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Our vision is to create a Punjab where young people have opportunities in education, employment and sports, while families have access to healthcare and essential services without facing crippling financial pressure. Our ultimate objective is to create a Punjab where people can live with dignity, families can secure their future and the younger generation can see a promising future within the state itself. We want to build a Punjab where people are healthy, educated, prosperous and confident about their future,” he said.
The Chief Minister said, “We want to create a Punjab where every family feels secure and every young person gets an opportunity to move forward. We are moving forward in this direction and leaving no stone unturned for this noble cause.”
CM Bhagwant Singh Mann said, “Our government is committed to the welfare of every section of society and every step is being taken for their progress. Today, over 1.26 crore health insurance cards distribution have been launched, providing a safety net to 54 lakh families. So far, ₹1,310 crore has been spent on the treatment of more than 7 lakh patients under the scheme.”
“This scheme is providing treatment without conditions and without cost. It is the only such scheme in the world,” he said.
During this, Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh stated that timely treatment can prevent complications, improve recovery and reduce the long-term cost of illness for families. “MMSY is supporting access to essential services, including dialysis, cardiac treatment, cancer treatment, knee replacement, cataract surgery, C-section deliveries, transplant services and emergency care,” he added.
The Health Minister further informed that the first kidney transplant at Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, was performed entirely under MMSY and further highlighted the successful heart procedure performed on 37-year-old women under MMSY. “This demonstrates the Government of Punjab’s efforts to upgrade its institutions so that advanced super-speciality services are available to the people of the state,” he added.
On the occasion, Cabinet Minister Dr Balbir Singh, Lok Sabha MP Malwinder Singh Kang and others were also present.
Beneficiaries Share Experiences Of Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna
Sharing his experience, an elderly beneficiary said he had been suffering from a knee problem and was grateful to the CM Bhagwant Singh Mann for providing free treatment under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna. He said such a facility, under which people can get treatment without worrying about the cost, had not been available to them under previous governments, and expressed his gratitude to the government for introducing the scheme.
Another beneficiary shared her experience of taking her child for treatment, saying that a private hospital had demanded a substantial amount of money for the treatment but under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, the treatment was taken care of properly without putting the family under financial pressure in government hospital. She thanked the Punjab Government for introducing a scheme that has made quality treatment accessible to families without the burden of unaffordable medical expenses.
MMSY Cards To Reach Every Eligible Family Through Camps, Door-To-Door Distribution
Under the next phase of Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, Sehat Cards will be taken directly to eligible families across Punjab, with camp-based distribution being carried out in more than 1,800 villages. The remaining areas will be covered through door-to-door delivery by designated Sehat Mitras and ASHA Workers. Field teams will visit beneficiaries at their homes, hand over the complete card kit and inform them about the benefits of the scheme, while those unable to receive their e-Cards at camps will be covered through follow-up visits. The Chief Minister has directed district administrations, health officials, Sehat Mitras, ASHA Workers and other field functionaries to ensure that no eligible family is left out because it lives in a remote village, is unable to attend a camp or is unaware of the enrolment and distribution process.
MMSY Covers Life-Saving And High-Cost Treatments
Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna currently covers 2,356 treatment packages through more than 900 empanelled hospitals across Punjab and Chandigarh, including government and private hospitals. The scheme provides access to specialised treatment involving repeated treatment, long-term care, surgery and advanced medical intervention, with special attention to high-cost and life-saving procedures such as dialysis, cancer care, cardiac procedures, kidney transplantation and liver transplantation. The Health Department has also highlighted services including knee replacement, cataract surgery, C-section deliveries, transplant services and emergency care under the scheme.
