Over 5,300 High-Risk Deliveries Treated Cashlessly Under Punjab's Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana
Over 5,300 High-Risk Deliveries Treated Cashlessly Under Punjab's Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana Published By, Last Updated: May 26, 2026, 13:50 IST Punjab Mukh Mantri Sehat
Over 5,300 High-Risk Deliveries Treated Cashlessly Under Punjab's Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana Published By, Last Updated: May 26, 2026, 13:50 IST Punjab Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana funds cashless care for over 7300 high risk pregnancies and 2000 newborns, spending over Rs 7 crore, with 44.8 lakh registrations in Punjab. Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana is emerging as a major healthcare support system in Punjab. Punjab Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana: Punjab is strengthening maternal and neonatal healthcare through the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, with thousands of high-risk pregnancies and critically ill newborns receiving cashless treatment under the scheme. According to official data from the State Health Agency (SHA), over 7,300 maternity and neonatal care cases were treated under the scheme till May 25, with total expenditure crossing Rs 7 crore. Of these, nearly 5,300 were high-risk caesarean deliveries, accounting for Rs 6.37 crore. The scheme is helping women facing pregnancy complications such as prolonged labour, anaemia, fetal distress and previous caesarean deliveries by providing free treatment through the Sehat Card.
A recent study based on the Family Health Survey (NFHS-5) found that nearly one in every two pregnancies in India is considered high-risk, especially among women from poor and vulnerable backgrounds. Beneficiaries said the scheme has reduced financial stress during medical emergencies. Deepika, a 28-year-old woman from Patiala, underwent a successful caesarean delivery covered entirely under the scheme after facing pregnancy complications. Similarly, Diksha Sonkar received maternal and neonatal care during the birth of her third child at PIMS Medical College Hospital without paying for treatment. Her husband, Vikas Sonkar, a daily wage labourer, said medical emergencies often force poor families to borrow money, but the Sehat Card helped them receive treatment without financial burden. Her husband Vikas Sonkar said, “We have two daughters and we were worried if there would be any complications in the third delivery." Vikas further said that life becomes deeply stressful the moment someone in the family has to be taken to a hospital.
“Even the mention of hospital instills fear in us," he says. The scheme is also supporting specialised treatment for critically ill and premature newborns. Official figures showed that more than 2,000 infants received neonatal treatment under different care packages. Among them, 881 infants received basic neonatal care, while 777 newborns requiring short-term ICU admission were treated under the Special Neonatal Care Package. Intensive and advanced neonatal care was also provided to babies suffering from prematurity, infections and breathing complications. Critical Neonatal Care for babies suffering from extreme prematurity, multi-system complications or severe medical instability benefitted 64 infants with expenditure of Rs 7.88lakh. In addition, prolonged chronic neonatal care support was provided to 18 infants. Also, chronic neonatal care included 17 infants, who required prolonged treatment for conditions like bronchopulmonary dysplasia and necrotising enterocoloitis, worth Rs 56 thousand. As per the data, the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana is emerging as a major healthcare support system in Punjab, with nearly 44.8 lakh registrations recorded under the scheme so far.
News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit Location: Chandigarh, India, India First Published: May 26, 2026, 13:50 IST News india Over 5,300 High-Risk Deliveries Treated Cashlessly Under Punjab's Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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