Hoshiarpur, May 5: A 65-year-old woman from village Panwa has regained her independence following a successful knee replacement surgery funded entirely by the Punjab government’s flagship health initiative. Kewal Kaur, who suffered from debilitating joint pain for five years, underwent the procedure at the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Jalandhar on April 17.
The surgery, which typically costs approximately ₹1.5 lakh in the private sector, was provided at no cost under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana. Senior Superintendent of the medical team, Dr. Anit Sachar, led the two-hour operation that has allowed Kaur to begin walking without the walking stick she had relied on for years.
“Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is like a third son to me,” Kaur stated following her recovery. She affirmed that the operation was completed without spending a single rupee, noting that she no longer feels like a burden to her family.
Her son, Mandeep Singh, a local farmer, noted that the family had spent years seeking medical relief through various prescriptions and consultations to no avail. Singh registered for a health card after reading about the government scheme, which eventually facilitated the surgery.
He maintained that the policy, which offers free treatment up to ₹10 lakh, serves as a vital resource for middle- and lower-income families. Singh noted that while initial diagnostic tests cost around ₹2,400, the surgical procedure and subsequent hospital stay were covered by the state.
Authorities confirmed that several other elderly patients from Mohali and Hoshiarpur also received similar treatments during the same period. The initiative aims to provide dignity and physical autonomy to senior citizens who might otherwise be deterred by high medical expenses.
