Punjab Spends ₹20.22 Crore on Cancer Treatment for 8,069 Patients Under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana. Adults aged 36–60 form over half of beneficiaries; June records highest monthly treatment load
A cancer diagnosis is frightening enough. For many families, the fear becomes heavier when the next question is not only “Can the disease be treated?” but also “Can we afford the treatment?” That is the gap the Bhagwant Mann Government’s Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana is attempting to address.
According to figures shared by the State Health Agency (SHA), Punjab, 8,069 cancer patients received cashless treatment under the scheme up to July 18, 2026, with the government spending ₹20.22 crore on their care.
Darshan Devi from Samana knows that uncertainty. As her pain increased, doctors advised surgery, but the estimated cost of ₹4–5 lakh was a major concern for her family. After she was approved under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, her cancer surgery was performed without any out-of-pocket expense. For her, the scheme was not simply a healthcare benefit; it removed one of the biggest obstacles standing between diagnosis and treatment.
Punjab’s treatment data shows that demand for cancer care has remained consistent through the year. The number of patients receiving treatment increased from 842 in January to 1,080 in February, 1,175 in March and 1,350 in April. Although the figure fell slightly to 1,275 in May, June recorded the highest number of treatments at 1,468 patients. In the first 18 days of July alone, 879 patients had already received care.
The rising requirement for cancer services also reflects a larger national challenge.Since the launch of the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana on January 8, 2026, a total of 2,68,274 beneficiaries have availed treatment under the scheme, accounting for 5,31,386 treatment cases. As of July 20, 2026, the total value of treatment provided under the scheme stands at ₹950.35 crore.
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh said the Bhagwant Mann Government’s focus through the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana was to ensure that financial hardship does not become a barrier to cancer treatment.