Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Monday announced that the government’s ambitious health card scheme will be rolled out tomorrow, September 23, in Tarn Taran and Barnala districts where 128 registration camps will be set up in each district. Residents will be required to carry their Aadhaar card and voter ID card for registration.
The registration process will be completed within 10–15 days in both districts, following which it will be extended across Punjab. Each family will receive one health card providing cashless treatment cover of up to ₹10 lakh annually.
Both government and private hospitals will be empanelled under the scheme, enabling major operations, surgeries, and treatments at no cost to beneficiaries. Punjab will be the first state where every family is entitled to such cashless treatment facilities.
Mann added that flood-affected areas will continue to have special health camps to provide necessary medical aid. In case any individual is unable to register for a health card, the facilities can still be availed by showing Aadhaar or voter ID. A list of empanelled hospitals will be announced soon, he informed.
He also said that the state government will soon scale up its flagship *Aam Aadmi Clinics* to 1,000, with complete availability of medicines that was earlier restricted to only 30 percent.
On the Central Government’s GST rate cut, Mann remarked, “Earlier they themselves imposed GST and caused inflation, now they are rolling it back.” He further stated that an inquiry at the government level will be conducted into the recent flood situation.
Speaking about Mastuana Medical College in Sangrur, the Chief Minister said although SGPC had created several hurdles, the medical college would definitely be established in Sangrur.