For families dependent on daily wages, even short hospital stays can erase months of earnings. For Gurtej Singh, a mechanic from Mandoli village in Patiala district, falling seriously ill meant not only losing income but the threat of mounting medical debt.
Within days of being admitted to Chaman Hospital, Bahadurgarh, his family had already spent nearly Rs 10,000 on bed charges and medicines. Doctors indicated that total expenses could rise to Rs 80,000-90,000, an amount far beyond the household’s irregular earnings.
Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana saves Mandoli mechanic from medical debt
With no land or savings to fall back on, borrowing at interest appeared inevitable. Relief came when Gurtej Singh was informed about the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, being implemented by the Punjab government under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, and he was assisted in obtaining his health card. Once enrolled, he received six days of complete treatment without any additional payment, with expenses covered under the scheme.
"Our focus is to ensure that even families with irregular income can seek quality treatment without fear of cost. Financial protection during illness is as important as medical care itself," said Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh.
"The biggest worry was how we would arrange the money. Without the card, we would have had to borrow and struggle for months. The scheme protected my family from that burden," he said, adding that the financial strain would have directly affected the education and well-being of his two daughters.
About Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana
By providing cashless coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh per eligible family annually, the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna scheme aims to prevent medical emergencies from turning into long-term financial setbacks for working families across Punjab.
With projected coverage of nearly 3 crore residents across about 65 lakh families and access to more than 2,300 treatment packages at over 800 hospitals, the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana aims to shield working households from slipping into debt during medical emergencies.
