Chief Minister Health Scheme expanded in Punjab, now free treatment for those living alone; 17 new medical procedures also included

Punjab News: Punjab Government has expanded the scope of Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana to make the access to health services stronger and easier for the citizens of the state. The main objective of this big decision is to reduce the huge pressure of increasing patients on government hospitals and to provide better treatment facilities to the people near their homes. The government has approved 17 new medical procedures and operations in private hospitals covered under this scheme. Apart from this, by making a humane change in the rules of the scheme, people living alone have also been included in it, which will provide great relief to a large and needy section of the society.

Now even those living alone will get security cover

The most sensitive and important aspect of the expansion of this scheme is that now people living alone will also be entitled to free treatment. Earlier, there was a rule that the benefit of the scheme was available only to those families which had two or more members. After the new decision of the government, now senior citizens living alone, widowed women and other independently living persons will also be able to take full advantage of this health scheme. Along with this, those elderly parents whose children live abroad for work or studies and they live alone here have also been included in this scheme.

Will be able to get treatment for serious diseases in private hospitals

According to the Health Department, this new step will reduce long lines and overcrowding in government hospitals. Now doctors will be able to pay more attention to the treatment of serious cases and patients will not have to wait long for operations. According to the new list, now many major procedures related to ear, nose and throat i.e. ENT can be done in private hospitals. This includes operations like setting of nasal fractures and adenoidectomy, which are required mostly in children or in road accident cases.

Special focus on general surgery and women’s health

Many major operations performed under the supervision of general surgery doctors have also now been added to the list of private hospitals. Now patients will be able to get hydrocele operation, boil treatment, appendix surgery as well as open and laparoscopic gall bladder surgery cashless in the private hospitals listed under the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana. Keeping women’s health in mind, the government has also included facilities like abortion treatment for more than 12 weeks, hysterotomy and hospitalization during pregnancy complications so that women can get safe treatment on time.

Facility for eye and bone operations also

Many important procedures related to eye diseases and orthopedic i.e. treatment of bones have also got a place in this scheme. Now eye surgeries like pterygium excision and entropion correction can be done free of cost in private hospitals. At the same time, for patients suffering from bone and joint problems, the facility of tendon release, treatment of small joint injuries and operation related to ankle fracture has also been made available in private hospitals. For all these new procedures, the government has fixed package rates ranging from Rs 2,000 to Rs 27,800.

Documents required for application and current status

To avail the benefits of this scheme, applicants must have Punjab (Aadhaar Redacted) and Voter ID card. If the age of the applicant is less than 18 years then it will be mandatory for him to submit the birth certificate. Citizens living alone will have to give a declaration form to prove their eligibility, which will be verified by local public representatives. According to the data of the state health agency, currently about 65 lakh families of Punjab are connected to this scheme. 824 government and private hospitals across the state are providing their services under this scheme, where treatment of about 2,300 diseases is being provided completely cashless.

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