Mohali barber gets free knee surgery from Chief Minister Health Scheme of Bhagwant Mann Government

Chandigarh: After a tragic road accident, Mohali barber Mohammad Zulfukar started fearing that he would lose his job. It was not possible for him to afford the treatment of his serious knee injury and he started worrying about his family’s future. But he got free treatment under the Chief Minister Health Scheme of the Bhagwant Mann government and now he is preparing to return to his favorite work again.

story of mohammed zulfukar    

Every morning, before most people have even started their day, Mohammad Zulfukar opens his small barber shop and starts waiting for customers. Over the years, he has been not only a barber who cuts hair but also a trusted partner of his customers. People feel a sense of belonging while interacting with them and returning to their shop again and again. But some time ago his life took a difficult turn.

One day he was going on a motorcycle when suddenly a cow came on the road. While trying to save him, he lost his balance and fell on the road. One of his legs got stuck under the motorcycle and due to the engine running, he was dragged on the road for several meters. There were minor injuries on one knee, but the other knee was seriously injured, making it difficult to even walk.

His work required standing for long periods of time. After the accident, it became difficult for him to even stand while getting a customer’s hair cut and he began to fear that he might lose his job.

He said, “I was in pain every day. I kept thinking that if I couldn’t stand, how would I work? And if I couldn’t work, how would I support my family?”

The expense of the surgery was adding to his worries. The treatment was expensive and it was almost impossible for him to raise money for it. Like many hard-working families, they too feared that they would either have to take a loan or postpone treatment.

He said, “I was very worried. There was pain, but the cost of the operation was even more scary. I couldn’t understand where so much money would come from.”

Relief received through Chief Minister Health Scheme   

He got relief through Punjab Chief Minister Health Scheme. He underwent anterior arthroscopic meniscus repair/meniscectomy operation at District Hospital, Mohali (S.A.S. Nagar). The cost of this treatment was Rs 53,455, which was fully covered under the scheme. This enabled them to get the necessary treatment without any financial worries.

He said, “When I came to know that the entire cost of my treatment would be covered under the scheme, it felt like a huge burden had been lifted. For the first time after many months, I saw a ray of hope.”

Zulfukar is recovering rapidly after the surgery and hopes to return to his shop soon and serve customers with the same smile and dedication as before.

He said, “It feels great to think that I will be able to return to work again. Cutting hair is not just my profession, but also supports my family and is a medium to connect with people. I am grateful that I got this opportunity.”

For Zulfukar, this operation was not just a treatment for his knee. “This restored his confidence, secured his family’s livelihood and gave him an opportunity to rebuild his life after the accident, which could have been the end of his career.” Today, every customer who comes to his shop is a symbol of the fact that timely health treatment can change someone’s life.

According to data from the state health agency, Punjab, 190 orthopedic procedures were performed at a cost of Rs 53.38 lakh under the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana during the reporting period. Of these, open reduction internal fixation, which is a procedure to stabilize broken bones with the help of plates, screws or rods, accounted for 79 surgeries, which was 41.6 percent of the total orthopedic procedures. Rs 16.75 lakh was spent on these fracture fixation surgeries, which is about 31.4 percent of the total cost. The average package price per patient stood at Rs 21,209.

Fracture-related surgeries emerged as the largest category of orthopedic treatment under the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana. Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh appealed to the people to follow road safety rules, adopt safety measures at workplaces and during sports activities and take special precautions to prevent the elderly from falling.

“Under the scheme, advanced surgical treatment is now available completely free of cost to eligible beneficiaries, but many serious injuries can be prevented through public awareness and adoption of safety measures,” the minister said. He urged drivers to wear helmets and seat belts, workers to use safety equipment, sportspersons to follow safety protocols and senior citizens and their families to take necessary steps to prevent falling incidents at home.