DW BUREAU / Chandigarh

The Punjab Cabinet on Thursday approved a scheme to provide cashless medical treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh to all families in the state at government as well as empanelled private hospitals. "With this, Punjab has become the first state to provide cashless treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh," Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said here after chairing a meeting of the Cabinet.

A spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office said the 'Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna' will be rolled out on October 2. Mann had announced bringing the scheme on July 8.

Health cards under the scheme will be issued at Seva Kendras or Common Service Centres (CSCs). Additionally, citizens can register online using their Aadhaar card or Voter ID to obtain a health card.

The official said the scheme will benefit the three crore residents of the state. More than 550 private hospitals have been empanelled for the scheme so far, and the number will be increased to 1,000 in future, the spokesperson added.

Earlier, a family could avail of treatment only up to Rs 5 lakh. The limit has now been enhanced.

By launching this initiative, Punjab has set a new benchmark for the rest of the country, becoming the first state to offer free healthcare, education, electricity, and bus travel to its citizens, claimed the spokesperson.

"Following the principle of 'Sarbat da Bhala' (welfare of all), as advocated by the great Gurus, the Punjab government is taking inclusive steps to ensure the well-being of every section of society."

Under this scheme, every citizen of Punjab, including government employees and pensioners, will be entitled to free healthcare, regardless of income level, the spokesperson said, adding that previously, only select families qualified for benefits under income-based criteria.

In its 2025-26 budget, the Aam Aadmi Party government had announced that it would extend Rs 10 lakh per annum insurance cover each for all the families in Punjab. A sum of Rs 778 crore was allocated for this purpose.

So far, 45 lakh families in Punjab are enrolled in government health insurance schemes: 16 lakh families are covered under the Central government's Ayushman Bharat Yojana, and 29 lakh families are covered under the Punjab government's Mukh Mantri Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana.

(editor@dailyworld.in)