No Family Should Lose a Loved One Because They Could Not Arrange Money in Time: Dr Balbir Singh
Chandigarh News (June 27): When Sheikh Zishan Qureshi from Malerkotla suffered a heart problem, he needed immediate treatment. He was rushed to a hospital, where doctors performed a Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA), commonly known as angioplasty, along with a diagnostic angiogram.
PTCA is a life-saving procedure that opens blocked arteries and restores blood flow to the heart during a heart attack. Doctors say every minute matters because delaying treatment can permanently damage the heart and increase the risk of death. For many families, however, arranging money for emergency treatment often causes dangerous delays.
The Bhagwant Mann Government’s Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana is helping remove this barrier by providing cashless treatment for eligible families. For Sheikh Zishan Qureshi, treatment worth ₹80,320 was covered under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana. “It was a huge relief for both my family and me that the treatment was carried out on time and without financial stress. The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana has made emergency care more accessible for people across Punjab,” said Sheikh Zishan Qureshi.
According to the State Health Agency (SHA), Punjab, more than 6,000 cardiac procedures have been performed under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana in the last five months. Most of these were PTCA procedures, allowing patients to receive treatment immediately without worrying about hospital bills. PTCA, inclusive of a diagnostic angiogram, is the second-highest expenditure category under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana at ₹64.82 crore, just behind knee replacement. It has benefited 6,138 patients across Punjab, ranking sixth by patient volume, with an average cost of ₹1,05,611 (about ₹1.06 lakh) per case. Individual treatment costs vary depending on clinical complexity.
As a time-sensitive intervention for heart attacks, PTCA has a significant life-saving impact, while cashless access under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana enables hospitals to begin treatment immediately without financial delays.
In another case, Harjinder Kaur, a 60-year-old woman from Gurdaspur district, also benefited from the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana. She underwent PTCA, a diagnostic angiogram, and temporary pacemaker implantation at Mahajan Hospital, Amritsar. Her son, Gurmeet Singh, a farmer, said they could not have afforded the treatment on their own.
“Had it not been for the Sehat Card, I would not have been able to get my mother’s treatment done. The cost was beyond our means. Today, she is recovering because of the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana,” he said.
Dr Saurabh Sharma, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Cardiology at Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, said PTCA is one of the most important emergency treatments for heart attack patients.
“Every minute of delay increases the risk of permanent heart damage. Cashless treatment under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana allows doctors to begin treatment immediately instead of waiting for families to arrange money,” he said.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh said the scheme is improving access to emergency cardiac care across the state. “Cashless treatment has reduced hesitation among patients and their families during medical emergencies. More people are reaching hospitals in time, and doctors can start treatment without financial delays. This is helping save lives,” he said.
The Minister added that the growing number of cardiac procedures under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana reflects increasing awareness of the scheme and greater public confidence in government-supported healthcare.
The Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana provides cashless treatment for families across Punjab, covering a wide range of medical services, including advanced cardiac procedures.
