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Punjab has become the first state in the country to launch a universal health cover for 65 lakh families living in the northern state. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor and former Delhi CM, Arvind Kejriwal jointly launched the scheme today announcing a 10 lakh cover per year for every family in Punjab. While addressing the gathering at the launch in Chandigarh, Kejriwal said that the three-crore people in the state will have access to free treatment under this program. The scheme would be operational from Oct 2, 2025, after which, camps to enrol people will be organised across the border state.
“No Citizen Of Punjab Will Have To Forgo Treatment Due To Financial Constraints”
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The Aam Aadmi Party's government in Punjab had declared in its 2025–2026 budget that it would provide all families in the state with insurance coverage worth Rs 10 lakh annually. A total of Rs 778 crore was set aside for this purpose. Under the “Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana” scheme, health cards would be issued at Seva Kendras or Common Service Centres (CSCs), or through online registration with an Aadhaar card or a voter ID. Speaking at the occasion, Kejriwal said that Punjab has set a new example for the rest of the country by launching this scheme: "Punjab is now the first state in India to give its citizens free health care, education, electricity and bus travel." He stated that under the scheme, any citizen can access treatment for free at any government hospital or empanelled private hospital and also that now, “no citizen of Punjab will have to give up treatment because of financial reasons.”
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Should Have Been Done Years Ago: Kejriwal
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Kejriwal added that such schemes should have been enforced 50 years ago, but it was never on the agenda of those who governed the nation. He added that because of the lack of will from the previous governments, the AAP had always concentrated on offering quality health and education facilities to citizens so that they may succeed in life. He said that those who brought the country to the status of "Vishavguru" had, until now, denied the country these facilities because of which the country had fallen behind. Taking examples of Singapore, Japan, Germany and other countries, Kejriwal said they were ahead because these nations had prioritised essential services like health. He said that the work” AAP was doing today was the actual work of nation building. Kejriwal stated that because of tireless efforts of the state government Punjab today stands at the top in the National Achievement Survey in Education, while it was ranked at 17th position in 2017.