Lives changed by free knee surgery: ‘Sehat Yojana’ in Punjab is making the elderly self-reliant again

Punjab news: Walking is a normal thing for many people. But for some, even walking two steps becomes a daily battle. Now this battle is slowly turning into relief in Punjab, as thousands of patients suffering from knee pain are undergoing life-changing surgeries under the ‘Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana’ of the Bhagwant Mann government. The plan is making modern treatments free and widely available.

Life changed after surgery

For aging Sukhwinder Kaur, the change brought immediate relief. He said, “I had pain in my knees for two-three years. Some days I could not even walk. Now after the surgery, I am very happy. The health card has given me my life back. Now I will be able to walk without pain.”

Punjab news: Battle and victory against osteoarthritis

For 67-year-old Paramjit Kaur, walking had become almost impossible until recently. Even going from one room to another was painful and standing for a few minutes seemed extremely difficult. For nearly a year he lived with limited mobility and pain, mainly due to osteoarthritis.

Punjab news: Help received from social media

His life changed when his son Jaswinder Singh came to know about the scheme through social media. He told, “I came to know about the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana online. I prepared the documents in a few days. After getting the registration done, the surgery was done. The doctors were very cooperative and now my mother is much better.”

Thousands of patients got new hope

Today, Paramjit Kaur is among thousands of people who have regained the freedom to walk through free knee replacements. In just three months, around 4,600 knee replacement surgeries have been performed under the scheme. This reflects the increasing number of patients who previously avoided surgery due to expensive treatment.

Number of operations increased in hospitals

Doctors say that this change is clearly visible in hospitals. Dr. Karan Chopra, orthopedic surgeon at Barnala Civil Hospital, says, “We are seeing a surge in knee and hip replacement cases. Most patients suffer from osteoarthritis, which damages the cartilage and causes stiffness and severe pain.”

How is knee replacement surgery done?

He explains that in knee replacement surgery, the damaged joint is replaced with metal and plastic parts, which improves movement and reduces pain. They say, “Earlier we used to perform around 80 surgeries a month, now the number has reached 120 to 130.”

Increased access through free treatment

The biggest reason for this increase is that treatment is cheap and accessible. Earlier, the cost of knee replacement ranged from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1 lakh, due to which people kept postponing the surgery for years. Dr. Chopra explains, “Earlier people were hesitant because of the expense. Now with Aadhaar, Voter ID and health card, treatment is completely cashless. Patients don’t have to pay anything.”

Effect visible across Punjab

Such stories are coming out from all over Punjab. In Bathinda, Randhir Singh underwent surgery at AIIMS, while in Tarn Taran, Rajwinder Kaur was treated at the district hospital under the same scheme. Their families say the financial relief helped them get treatment without any hesitation. Rajvinder’s daughter Sahajpreet said, “My mother was in a lot of pain and could not even do household work. Because of the health card, we did not have to worry about expenses. We are grateful to the government for this scheme.”

Changing thinking, increasing relief

Punjab news: The change that is being seen in Punjab is not just an increase in the number of surgeries, but a change in the mindset towards pain, where treatment is no longer deferred due to cost, and freedom of movement is no longer a distant dream. Now instead of the sounds of helplessness, the sounds of walking footsteps have started being heard in the hospitals.