She Carried Hole in Her Heart for Years; Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana Helped Give Gurpreet Kaur New Lease on Life (AAP)
Chandigarh: The Bhagwant Mann Government's Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY) is helping people across Punjab get quality healthcare without worrying about medical expenses. Under the scheme, every eligible family can receive cashless treatment worth up to ₹10 lakh per year.
The scheme has received an overwhelming response, with more than 45 lakh people already registered. Thousands of families have benefited from it, especially during medical emergencies, and many have expressed gratitude for the support it provides.
One such beneficiary is a woman from Bhatinda. A routine life was suddenly overshadowed by a dangerous heart condition for 37-year-old Gurpreet Kaur. Diagnosed with a large hole in her heart, she faced both, a medical crisis and the fear of mounting treatment costs. Thanks to a successful procedure at AIIMS Bathinda and support under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, she has been given a fresh chance at life.
For most people, the sound of a heartbeat is something they never think about. It just keeps time through the joy and struggles of every day life. However, for Gurpreet Kaur, every heartbeat had unknowingly been carrying a hidden danger.
Until recently, Gurpreet’s life revolve around the simple responsibilities of family. She cared for her loved ones, managed her household, and looked ahead to the future with the hopes common to any person. Few would have guessed that she was living with a congenital heart that had gone undetected for years.
Doctors later discovered that Gurpreet had a large Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), a 22-millimetre hole between the upper chambers of her heart. The condition was causing abnormal blood flow and placing strain on the organ. Left untreated, it could have led to serious complications, including heart failure.
The diagnosis brought fear into the family's life. There were concerns about her health, but there was also another worry that hangs over countless households whenever illness strikes, the cost of treatment. “My first thought was about my the financial burden," Gurpreet Kaur recalled. "I worried about how we would pay for the treatment. It felt like our family was standing at a crossroads.”
Medical experts at AIIMS Bathinda recommended a specialised procedure to close the defect. Hospital records show the it was carried out on 5 May 2026 in the Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory under general anaesthesia. A 24-mm Amplatzer Septal Occluder device was carefully positioned to seal the opening in her heart.
The family placed their trust in Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana that covered the cost worth around a lakh rupees. The procedure carried risks. Consent documents warned of possible cardiac complications, haemodynamic instability and the potential need for intensive care support.
Standing outside the Cardiac Catheterisation Laboratory, waiting with their fingers crossed and pewing endlessly were the family members. Her husband remembers those anxious hours vividly. "We could do nothing except pray," He said. "Every minute felt longer than the last. When the doctors finally came out and told us everything had gone well, it felt as though a mountain had been lifted from our shoulders."
The procedure was successful and there were no complications. For Gurpreet this was the dawn of recovery and a hope that nurtured a healthier future.
Equally important was the financial relief provided through the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana. The scheme helped spare the family from expenses that might otherwise have become overwhelming.
Punjab Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said the case reflected the purpose of public healthcare support. “No family should be denied quality treatment because of financial hardship," he said. "Gurpreet's recovery shows how timely medical care and financial protection can save lives and preserve the dignity of families." Today, Gurpreet, like many other beneficiaries of Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, is recovering with renewed hope.
Recent data received from the State Health Agency (SHA), Punjab, shows that under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY), a total of 175,210 patients have benefited so far, receiving 343,370 treatments in aggregate. The scheme has incurred a total expenditure of ₹581.90 crore, reflecting its extensive utilisation and financial commitment toward cashless healthcare services in the state.
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