CHANDIGARH, JUNE 4 — The Punjab government expanded its universal health insurance initiative on Wednesday, permitting 17 additional medical treatments at empanelled private hospitals under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana.
The policy shift reduces the number of operations previously restricted to public facilities, allowing beneficiaries to utilize a broader network of private healthcare providers. Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh noted that the updates would distribute medical workloads more evenly across the state, lowering wait times and improving accessibility in regions facing heavy patient volumes.
“This is expected to reduce pressure on major government facilities, shorten waiting times, and improve access to timely care,” Singh declared.
The newly permitted procedures cross multiple fields of medicine, including general surgery, ophthalmology, orthopedics, and gynecology. Patients can now access private care for appendicectomies, gallbladder surgeries, nasal bone fracture settings, and adenoidectomies. Women’s healthcare services were also broadened to include treatments for antenatal complications and specific specialized examinations. Officials stated that package rates for these added interventions are structured between ₹2,000 and ₹27,800.
In tandem with the clinical updates, the administration revised the program’s eligibility parameters to include individuals residing alone, such as independent senior citizens, widows, and parents whose children live overseas. The program was previously restricted to households with a minimum of two members.
Administrative guidelines state that single applicants must provide local residency documentation and a verified declaration confirmed by local elected representatives. State health agency reports indicate that the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana currently covers approximately 65 lakh families across a network of 824 public and private hospitals.
