Chandigarh, March 20: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Friday presented a comprehensive four-year performance report of the state’s healthcare sector, headlined by the transition to a universal, cashless treatment model. Speaking in Chandigarh as part of his ‘Shandaar Chaar Saal’ series, the Chief Minister affirmed that the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna now guarantees ₹10 lakh in medical coverage for every resident family, positioning it as a more robust alternative to federal programs.
The Chief Minister stated that the state’s health initiative is distinguished by its lack of restrictive conditions and significantly higher per-capita investment. Mann declared that while the Union Government allocated ₹9,300 crore for the entire country, Punjab has earmarked ₹2,000 crore specifically for its 3 crore residents for the 2026-27 period. He maintained that this reflects a tenfold increase in per-capita spending compared to the Ayushman Bharat scheme, which he described as inadequate for the state’s needs.
The report card highlighted the expansion of the Aam Aadmi Clinic network, with 883 centers currently operational and another 100 scheduled for dedication on March 28. Mann noted that these clinics have recorded over 5 crore OPD visits, with a 94 percent patient satisfaction rate. He further asserted that the government has undertaken the largest recruitment drive in the state’s history, hiring 948 general doctors and 627 specialists since 2022, accounting for 35 percent of all government doctor recruitments in the last 75 years.
Technological advancements were also a focal point of the presentation. The Chief Minister affirmed that Punjab has become the first state to implement AI-based cancer screening, with over 9,000 women screened for breast cancer recently. He stated that PET scan facilities will be introduced in Amritsar, Faridkot, Mohali, and Patiala by 2026. Mann concluded by asserting that despite misinformation from certain quarters, the government remains committed to developing Punjab into a premier hub for medical education and advanced critical care.
