CHANDIGARH, May 1 — A significant surge in knee replacement surgeries across Punjab has marked a shift in public health accessibility, with the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY) facilitating 4,600 procedures in the last three months. State health officials stated that the initiative, launched by the Bhagwant Mann government, is successfully providing advanced orthopedic care to patients who previously avoided treatment due to high medical costs.
Medical professionals at state facilities have noted a substantial increase in surgical volumes. Dr. Karan Chopra, an orthopedic surgeon at Civil Hospital Barnala, maintained that monthly surgeries at his center have risen from approximately 80 to over 120 cases. He asserted that the primary driver for this spike is the transition to a completely cashless system, which requires only basic identification like an Aadhaar or voter card for registration.
“Previously, people were reluctant because of the expense,” Dr. Chopra stated, noting that surgeries used to cost between ₹50,000 and ₹1 lakh. He affirmed that most patients treated under the scheme suffer from osteoarthritis, a condition that severely restricts movement by damaging joint cartilage.
The impact on individual lives has been immediate. Sukhwinder Kaur, a patient who struggled with chronic pain for years, affirmed that the health card has restored her independence. “I had knee pain for two to three years. Some days I could barely walk,” she stated. She maintained that the surgery has allowed her to look forward to walking without discomfort.
Reports from various districts, including Bathinda and Tarn Taran, indicate that families are now prioritizing long-delayed surgeries. Sehajpreet, whose mother Rajvinder Kaur underwent the procedure in Tarn Taran, asserted that the financial relief provided by the Sehat card allowed the family to proceed without hesitation. She maintained that the scheme has fundamentally changed how families approach elderly care and mobility issues.
