Chandigarh: Punjab health minister Dr Balbir Singh on Wednesday hailed the AAP govt’s flagship Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, claiming that the Rs 10-lakh health cover helped save the life of a one-year-old child suffering from pneumonia. The minister said the child, Khwaish, required urgent medical attention. “Earlier, in many such cases, families had to first arrange funds, complete documentation, and then wait for approvals before treatment could begin. However, under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, this gap has been removed,” he said.The minister claimed that in the latest case, treatment was initiated immediately without any upfront payment. “The family did not have to arrange funding or undergo verification steps, allowing doctors to begin treatment at a critical time. In cases involving young children, even short delays can lead to complications, but immediate access to treatment ensured that the child received timely care and recovered safely,” he said. He claimed that similar instances were being reported from districts such as Sangrur and Mansa, where newborns requiring specialised care, including treatment for low birth weight and other critical conditions, were getting medical attention under the scheme without financial barriers. “The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna ensures that treatment is not delayed by financial or administrative hurdles,” he added.The scheme provides cashless health coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh per family annually, enabling access to treatment across empanelled govt and private hospitals. With more than 26 lakh Sehat Cards already issued, patients are accessing treatment at over 900 empanelled hospitals, supported by more than 2,300 medical packages, said the minister.
