Punjab CM Opens Registration for Health Card Scheme Offering Cashless Treatment up to Rs 10 Lakh from September 23

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann on Monday announced the launch of the ‘Chief Minister Health Scheme,’ under which residents can get cashless treatment worth up to Rs 10 lakh. The registration for the scheme will start from Tuesday, September 23, in Barnala and Tarn Taran districts. As a pilot project, the registration process will be completed in 10–12 days, with camps set up at 128 locations in each district. The Chief Minister said this first-of-its-kind scheme has been introduced to provide free healthcare for the welfare of the people.

Registration Process and Awareness Campaign

The Chief Minister said that all residents of these two districts can apply for the Chief Minister Health Card, and no one will have to travel far for registration during these camps. He stated that before setting up the camps, announcements and other awareness methods will be used so that every person knows about the camp. Bhagwant Singh Mann mentioned that applicants for the health card will need to bring their Aadhaar card, voter ID card, and a passport-sized photo to the camp, and no other documents will be required. The Chief Minister added that registration under the Chief Minister Health Scheme for all in these districts will be completed within 10 to 12 days. He said that based on feedback, any improvements required in the process will be duly incorporated. Bhagwant Singh Mann noted that after this, registration will begin across Punjab, and once the process is completed statewide, the scheme will be officially implemented.

Benefits and Coverage of the Scheme

The Chief Minister said that every Punjabi will be able to use the ‘Chief Minister Health Card’ to avail health insurance of ₹10 lakh, ensuring free and cashless treatment. He mentioned that government employees, ASHA workers, and Anganwadi workers will also be included in the scheme. Bhagwant Singh Mann stated that every family will receive health insurance of ₹10 lakh, with no limit on the number of family members; each citizen will get a Chief Minister Health Card, and treatment will be available at all government and listed private hospitals to ensure cashless care. The Chief Minister added that over 2,000 health procedures and surgeries will be included under this scheme, making Punjab the first state in the country to provide health services worth ₹10 lakh. He expressed hope that this historic initiative in Punjab will set an example nationwide for providing free healthcare to all residents. Bhagwant Singh Mann said that, like free electricity, this facility will also be available to all residents, fulfilling the promise of quality healthcare.

Additional Initiatives and Statements

On another issue, the Chief Minister said that to provide quality healthcare, 881 ‘Common Man Clinics’ have been opened in the past three years, and the number will soon exceed 1,000. He stated that the availability of medicines in government hospitals has increased from 30% to nearly 100%, and the number of people benefiting from basic government health services has risen from 3.4 million to 10.8 million. Bhagwant Singh Mann said it is a matter of pride and satisfaction that Punjab will be the first state in the country to provide free health insurance up to Rs 10 lakh. The Chief Minister criticized the central government’s failed initiatives, giving the example of GST, which was introduced with great fanfare but later rolled back, questioning the logic of such actions. He urged BJP leaders to avoid politicizing flood issues and challenged the state BJP president, Sunil Jakhar, to do proper homework before issuing any statements. Bhagwant Singh Mann also announced that a medical college will be established in Sangrur to provide quality healthcare, criticizing the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee for refusing land, calling it a puppet of the Badal family. He reiterated that no ration card in the state will be canceled, stating that, in view of recent floods, he has requested six months from the central government to verify these cards. He criticized the criteria used for ration card cancellation, including vehicle ownership, government jobs, small landholdings, and income, saying it is unfair to punish entire families when only one member fails to meet the standards.