The North News
Chandigarh, March 26
Punjab’s Finance Minister, Harpal Singh Cheema, has announced a major boost in healthcare funding as part of the ‘Badalda Punjab’ Budget for 2025-26. Presenting the budget at the Vidhan Sabha on Tuesday, he revealed a 10% increase in the health sector budget to ₹5,598 crore. The funds will be used to upgrade infrastructure, expand Aam Aadmi Clinics, and enhance emergency care under the FARISHTEY Scheme. Additionally, the budget for Medical Education and Research has risen by 27% to ₹1,336 crore.
Health and Medical Education Minister Dr. Balbir Singh welcomed the enhanced allocation, describing it as a “transformational” move for the sector. He highlighted the Punjab government’s decision to extend the Mukh Mantri Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana (MMSBY) to every resident, doubling annual insurance coverage from ₹5 lakh to ₹10 lakh per family.
Dr. Singh said the budget would bring all 65 lakh families in Punjab under the health insurance scheme, removing previous eligibility restrictions. At present, 45 lakh families are covered—16 lakh under the central Ayushman Bharat scheme and 29 lakh under Punjab’s SSBY. Under the new plan, families enrolled in Ayushman Bharat will receive an additional ₹5 lakh top-up from the state, raising their total coverage to ₹10 lakh. Beneficiaries will also receive Sehat Cards for cashless treatment at government and private hospitals.
The budget also includes funding for a new medical college in Barnala Kalan, SBS Nagar, which will offer 50 MBBS seats. Meanwhile, the ‘CM Di Yogshala’ initiative, currently benefiting 1.5 lakh residents with 3,200 daily yoga sessions, will be expanded to reach two lakh participants.
