Parliament Question: Health Insurance Scheme in Punjab

GOVERNMENTOFINDIA MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH ANDFAMILYWELFARE LOK SABHA UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1139 TOBE ANSWERED ON24TH JULY,2026 HEALTH INSURANCE SCHEMEIN PUNJAB 1139. SMT.HARSIMRATKAUR BADAL: Will the Minister of HEALTHAND FAMILYWELFAREbe pleased tostate: (a) whether the Union Government is aware that private hospitals in Punjab suspended cashless treatment under the State-run health insurance scheme due to approximately Rs. 600 crore inpendingduesfrom the Punjab Government,if so, the detailsthereof; (b) whether the Mukhya Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY) launched by the Punjab Government providing Rs.10 lakh per year per family is being adequately funded and operationalised and whether the Ayushman Bharat componentof Rs.1 lakhperfamily isbeingreleasedontime,if so, the detailsthereof; (c) whether the Union Government is aware of severe regional disparities within Punjab's health infrastructure such as lack of doctors, absence of trauma centres and step-motherly treatment of entire districts such as Moga from health investments, if so, the details thereof; and (d) the steps taken by the Union Government to ensure that rural Punjab receives adequate upgraged to primary health centre and community health centres to address health problems inPunjab? ANSWER THE MINISTER OFSTATEIN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTHAND FAMILYWELFARE (SHRIPRATAPRAOJADHAV) (a) and (b): In the State of Punjab, a total of 16.65 lakh families are eligible for health coverage underAyushman Bharat-Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY). Stateof Punjab isimplementing AB-PMJAYthrough a hybrid model,wherein claimsupto Rs. 1lakh are settled through an insurance company, while claims exceeding Rs. 1 lakh and up to the scheme limitare settled through the Trust mode. AB-PMJAYisa centrally sponsored scheme, with the cost of implementation shared between the Central andState Governmentsinthe ratioof 60:40for Punjab.The funding of AB-PMJAY is entirely demand driven. National Health Authority releases funds for scheme implementation to the States/UTs on the basis of utilization certificates for previousreleasesanddemandreceived from the States/UTs. (c): Under Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS), ‘Establishment of new medical colleges attached with existing district/referral hospitals’ with preference to underserved areas and aspirational districts, where there is no existing Government or private medical college, 03 medical colleges have been approved in SAS Mohali, Kapurthala and Hoshiarpur for which Rs. 223.40 crore has been released. Further, under the CSS for ‘Strengthening and Upgradation of Govt. Medical Colleges for Increase of PG seats’,two colleges were approved for increasing 87 PG seats for which Rs. 44 crore has been released by Central Government. Under the scheme for ‘Upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government medical colleges to increase MBBS seats in the country’,100 MBBS seats have been approved in 02 colleges with an approved cost of Rs. 120 crore and entire central share of Rs.72 crore hasbeenreleasedtothe StateGovernment. Further, under National Programme for Prevention & Management of Trauma and Burn Injuries, to reduce the incidence, mortality, morbidity, and long- term disabilities resulting from accidents, five Trauma Care Facilities at Districts/Sub-District Hospital situated at Pathankot,Jalandhar, Khanna, FazailkaandFerozpur, inPunjabhave beensanctioned. (d): Under National Health Mission, through 1.86 lakh Ayushman Arogya Mandirs in the country, including 3,322 AAMs in Punjab, comprehensive primary healthcare is provided by strengthening Sub Health Centres (SHCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs). These AAMs provide preventive, promotive, rehabilitative and curative care for an expanded range of services encompassing reproductive and child healthcare services, communicable diseases, non-communicablediseases and otherhealthissues. The AAMs incrementally provide 12 package of primary health care services across the country, encompassing reproductive and child care services, communicable diseases, non- communicable diseases, palliative care and elderly care, care for common mental disorders, neurological conditions (epilepsy, dementia) and substance use disorders management (tobacco, alcohol, drugs), oral health, ENT care, and basic emergency care. Government of India also initiated Ayushman Arogya Shivir, a monthly fixed day outreach programme to createawareness amongpeople at bothSHCsandPHCs. To complement the expanded services, the essential list of drugs & diagnostics has been expanded to make available 179 drugs & 63 diagnostics at PHC-AAMs and 113 drugs & 14 diagnosticsat SHC-AAMs. Under the CSS component of Pradhan Mantri - Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission, support has been provided for the state of Punjab with provision of amount Rs. 755.65 crore for establishment of 22 Integrated Public Health Labs and 21 Critical Care Blocksoverthe periodof FY2021-22 toFY2025-26. *****