The Punjab government has announced a major expansion of health cover that will give every family in the state access to cashless and free treatment up to ₹10 lakh per year under the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana. Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh revealed the scheme at a press conference, saying the formal launch will take place on 15 January in the presence of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal.
Punjab Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana to Cover Every Family
The Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana aims to reduce out-of-pocket medical expenditure for Punjab households by offering comprehensive cover for in-patient care and selected procedures at empanelled hospitals. Officials described the move as a step to strengthen the public health safety net and widen access to tertiary care for vulnerable groups.
Dr Balbir Singh said the state government will ensure the scheme operates on a cashless basis at participating public and private hospitals. The annual limit of ₹10 lakh per family is among the largest such state-level entitlements announced in recent years, and the scheme is intended to complement existing central programmes.
While the government provided an outline at the press briefing, it said full operational details will be published before the launch. Officials indicated that the state will set up a simple enrolment process and distribute a family health card, often referred to in brief as a Sehat card, which beneficiaries can use to access services without paying at the point of care.
Expected channels for registration include online portals and district health centres, with local help desks to assist residents who lack digital access. The administration has said it will coordinate with hospitals to empanel providers swiftly and set up claims processing mechanisms to keep reimbursement times low.
Policy analysts welcomed the announcement but noted the scheme’s impact will depend on timely implementation, hospital empanelment and sustained funding. Effective grievance redressal and transparent claim settlement processes will also be essential to maintain public trust in the programme.
The initiative could significantly ease the financial burden of catastrophic health events for many families. High medical bills frequently push households into debt, and state-backed cashless cover can shield families from such shocks when combined with strong oversight and quality assurance for participating providers.
Separately, the government said it would run an information campaign ahead of the launch to explain eligibility, the enrolment process and where beneficiaries may seek treatment. Officials urged residents to await official communications for the exact steps to obtain their family health card and signalled that temporary arrangements will be put in place to process applications quickly once the scheme opens.
With the formal inauguration scheduled for 15 January, the state will now move to finalise operational guidelines and systems. If implemented effectively, the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana promises to expand access to secondary and tertiary care across Punjab and reduce the financial strain of serious illness for thousands of families.
Key Takeaways:
- Punjab Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana will provide each family up to ₹10 lakh per year in cashless medical treatment.
- The scheme’s formal launch is scheduled for 15 January by Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party leader Arvind Kejriwal.
- Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh announced the scheme at a press conference; officials say details on enrolment and card issuance will be released ahead of rollout.
