Gurpreet Kaur struggled with heart disease for years; ‘Chief Minister Health Scheme’ gave new life

Chandigarh: The Chief Minister Health Scheme of the Bhagwant Mann government is providing quality health services to the people of Punjab, freeing them from the worry of treatment cost. Under this scheme, cashless treatment up to Rs 10 lakh is provided annually to each eligible family.

This scheme has received widespread support from the people and till now more than 45 lakh people have been registered in it. Thousands of families have benefited from this, especially in medical emergencies and many beneficiaries have expressed their gratitude to the government for this.

Gurpreet Kaur got relief from disease  

One such beneficiary is 37-year-old Gurpreet Kaur from Bathinda, whose life suddenly came under threat due to a serious heart ailment. When he discovered that he had a large hole in his heart, he not only faced a serious health challenge but also had to worry about the huge expense of the treatment. But with the successful treatment at AIIMS Bathinda and the support of Chief Minister Health Scheme, he got a new chance in life.

For most people the heartbeat is something they never even think about. It continues silently with every joy and sorrow of life. But every heartbeat of Gurpreet Kaur unknowingly carried a hidden danger.

Till now, Gurpreet’s life was going on normally revolving around taking care of his family and domestic responsibilities. No one had any idea that she was suffering from a heart disease since birth, which remained undiagnosed for years.

Doctors gave this answer!  

During the examination, doctors found that he had a large 22 mm atrial septal defect (ASD) between the upper two chambers of his heart. Due to this, there was an imbalance in blood flow and extra pressure was being put on the heart. If it is not treated, it could lead to serious complications such as heart failure.

As soon as the disease was discovered, there was an atmosphere of worry in the family. On one hand there was health concern, on the other hand the cost of treatment was also a big challenge.

Gurpreet Kaur says, “The first thought that came to my mind was the cost of treatment. I was worried about how we would be able to bear such expenses. It seemed as if our family was standing at a very difficult point in life.”

Experts at AIIMS Bathinda advised a special procedure to overcome this problem. As per hospital records, the procedure was performed under general anesthesia at the cardiac catheterization lab on May 5, 2026. During this, the hole in the heart was closed by inserting a 24 mm Amlitzer septal occluder device.

The family relied on the Chief Minister Health Scheme, under which the treatment cost of around Rs one lakh was covered. The procedure was risky and the consent documents mentioned concerns such as potential cardiac complications, hemodynamic instability, and the need for serious medical attention.

Outside the cardiac catheterization lab, family members were praying with folded hands. Gurpreet’s husband recalls that time, “All we could do was pray. Every minute seemed so long. When the doctor came out and said everything was successful, it felt as if a huge burden had been lifted from our heads.” The procedure was completely successful and no complications were reported. For Gurpreet this was a new beginning towards a healthy future.

Chief Minister Health Scheme became a boon   

The financial support received under the Chief Minister Health Scheme proved to be extremely important for the family, saving them from huge expenses which could have been unbearable for them.

Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said that this case reflects the true purpose of public health assistance. He said, “No family should be deprived of quality treatment due to financial difficulties. Gurpreet’s recovery is proof that timely medical care and financial security can not only save lives but also maintain the dignity of families.” Today Gurpreet Kaur, like thousands of other beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Swasthya Yojana, is moving forward in life with new hope and better health.

According to the latest data from the State Health Agency, Punjab, so far 1,75,210 patients have benefited under the scheme and 3,43,370 treatments have been done. Rs 581.90 crore has been spent on the scheme so far, indicating the government’s strong commitment towards cashless health services in the state.