The North News
Chandigarh, December 26
The Punjab government has announced a major expansion of its public healthcare cover, promising cashless medical treatment of up to ₹10 lakh for every family in the state. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann said the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna would be launched from next month, describing it as a step towards universal healthcare and financial protection for citizens. Speaking after reviewing a meeting of the health department in Chandigarh, Mann said Punjab would become the first state in India to offer cashless treatment of up to ₹10 lakh to every family, without any income limit. “This scheme ensures that people receive quality healthcare without spending even a single rupee from their pockets,” he said, adding that no resident would be forced to skip treatment because of financial constraints.
Under the scheme, families will be eligible for cashless treatment for major illnesses, surgeries, critical care and life-saving procedures at a wide network of empanelled government and private hospitals across Punjab and Chandigarh.
The Chief Minister said the programme would also cover hospitalisation costs, ICU services, diagnostics, medicines, consumables, and pre- and post-hospitalisation expenses, as per approved packages. The coverage limit has been doubled from the existing ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh per family annually. Government employees and pensioners will also be included, with no exclusions based on income.
Mann said the focus would be on ensuring paperless treatment, reducing out-of-pocket expenses for secondary and tertiary care, and improving access to healthcare services in both urban and rural areas. He directed the health department to complete all preparations to ensure a smooth rollout of the scheme.
