Life-Saving Treatment Provided to One-Year-Old Under Chief Minister Health Scheme

Under the Chief Minister Health Scheme, a one-year-old girl suffering from a serious illness received timely life-saving treatment, highlighting the Punjab government’s efforts to ensure immediate medical care without financial or administrative delays. With a growing number of newborns and young children receiving treatment under the scheme, the Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, is working to ensure that medical assistance begins without delay during critical situations. In Sri Muktsar Sahib, a one-year-old girl named Khwaish was admitted to the hospital after being diagnosed with pneumonia, a condition requiring urgent medical attention. In the past, families often faced delays due to arranging funds, completing documentation, or waiting for approvals before treatment could begin. However, under the scheme, such barriers have been removed. As the health card had already been issued, treatment for the child was initiated immediately at Deep Hospital under the supervision of Dr. Monica Garg, without any advance payment. The family did not have to arrange funds or undergo verification procedures, enabling doctors to start treatment at a crucial time. In cases involving infants, even minor delays can lead to complications, but timely access to care ensured the child received proper treatment and recovered safely. Similar cases have been reported from districts such as Sangrur and Mansa, where newborns requiring specialized care, including treatment for low birth weight and other serious conditions, are receiving medical assistance under the scheme without financial constraints. The increasing number of such cases reflects improved and faster access to healthcare services across Punjab. Highlighting the impact of the initiative, Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr. Balbir Singh stated that the scheme ensures treatment is not delayed due to financial or administrative hurdles. He emphasized that in cases involving young children, even slight delays can have serious consequences, and the scheme effectively eliminates such risks. The scheme provides cashless health insurance coverage of up to ₹10 lakh per family annually, enabling treatment at empanelled government and private hospitals. So far, more than 26 lakh health cards have been issued, and patients are availing treatment across over 900 empanelled hospitals, covering more than 2,300 medical packages. The rising number of neonatal and pediatric cases treated under the scheme indicates a shift toward more accessible and timely healthcare services, where treatment begins without financial hesitation. The Punjab government is continuously encouraging residents to register for health cards at designated centers to avail cashless treatment benefits under the scheme.