CHANDIGARH/PATIALA, JUNE 8 — A specialized healthcare initiative by the Bhagwant Mann administration has provided complete financial coverage for the life-saving surgery of Patiala entrepreneur and MasterChef India contestant Harmanpreet Kaur. The 51-year-old culinary artist underwent a successful laparoscopic procedure at Rajindra Hospital following a decade-long battle with severe medical complications, including brain hemorrhage aftermath and chronic bleeding.
The treatment was processed entirely under the state’s Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, which targets financial relief for residents facing massive medical debts. Kaur had experienced debilitating symptoms for nearly two years before her admission on April 30.
“Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna removed the financial burden of treatment and gave me timely access to quality healthcare,” Kaur affirmed after her recovery.
Medical teams at the state-run facility operated on May 2 after stabilizing her related conditions, which included Type-2 diabetes, hypertension, and psoriasis. Due to her extensive neurological history dating back to a 2011 hemorrhage, administration of anesthesia required specialized oversight.
Dr. Preet Kamal Sibia, a professor in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, detailed the complexity of the intervention.
“Harmanpreet, a perimenopausal woman, presented with heavy menstrual bleeding for nearly a decade along with multiple co-morbidities, including hypertension, Type-2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, psoriasis and neurological complications,” Dr. Sibia stated.
The surgical team successfully performed a Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy to resolve a large fibroid that had resisted non-invasive treatments since 2020.
“The surgery was successful, her post-operative recovery was uneventful and she was discharged in a stable and satisfactory condition,” Dr. Sibia declared.
The prolonged illness had previously strained the family’s financial resources, forcing Kaur’s husband to leave his private-sector employment to become her full-time caregiver. Despite these setbacks, Kaur built a local reputation operating a food cart, tiffin service, and food van in Patiala, eventually reaching the Top 20 on MasterChef India Season 6.
“Beneficiaries like me are an example how affordable healthcare can transform the lives of common man, mainly those who face prolonged illnesses,” Kaur asserted, noting that the cashless care restored her stability.
