Punjab has treated over 5,300 high-risk caesarean deliveries and more than 2,000 neonatal care cases under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana till May 25, according to official data released by the State Health Agency (SHA).
The state government said around 7,300 maternity and neonatal care cases have been covered under the scheme so far, with total expenditure reaching Rs 7.04 crore. Of these, 5,300 high-risk caesarean deliveries accounted for Rs 6.37 crore, reflecting the growing use of the scheme for emergency obstetric care and complicated pregnancies.
The scheme provides cashless healthcare coverage and is aimed at reducing the financial burden on families requiring critical maternal and newborn treatment.
Officials said the programme is also supporting specialised neonatal treatment for premature and critically ill infants. According to SHA data, 2,094 infants received treatment under different neonatal care packages covered by the scheme.
Among them, 881 infants were treated under the Basic Neonatal Care package, while 777 infants requiring short-term ICU admission were covered under the Special Neonatal Care package.
Additionally, 207 newborns received intensive neonatal care requiring CPAP support, ventilation or treatment for neonatal sepsis, while 116 highly vulnerable infants weighing between 1,200 and 1,499 grams or requiring prolonged ventilator support received advanced neonatal care.
The state also provided critical neonatal care to 64 infants suffering from extreme prematurity and severe medical instability, besides prolonged chronic neonatal care support to several newborns requiring extended treatment.
The government cited beneficiary experiences to highlight the scheme’s impact. Deepika, a 28-year-old woman from Patiala who faced pregnancy complications including anaemia, underwent a successful caesarean delivery fully covered under the Sehat Card.
Similarly, Diksha Sonkar, 31, received maternal and neonatal care during the birth of her third child at PIMS Medical College Hospital under the scheme. Her husband, a daily wage labourer, said the cashless treatment helped the family avoid borrowing money during a medical emergency.
The government said approximately 44.8 lakh registrations have been completed under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana so far.
