*51 New Appointments in Defence Services Welfare Department to Ensure Better Services for Ex-servicemen and Their Families: Mohinder Bhagat*

*8 District Defence Services Welfare Officers, 42 Sainik Welfare Organisers and 1 Clerk appointed; 20% staff shortage addressed*

SAS Nagar/Chandigarh, August 9:As part of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann’s mission to provide government jobs to the youth of Punjab, Cabinet Minister for Defence Services Welfare, Freedom Fighters and Horticulture, Mr. Mohinder Bhagat, on Saturday formally handed over appointment letters to 51 newly appointed officers and employees of the Defence Services Welfare Department at Sainik Sadan, Mohali. The appointments include 8 District Defence Services Welfare Officers, 42 Sainik Welfare Organisers and 1 Clerk.

Speaking on the occasion, Cabinet Minister Mr. Mohinder Bhagat said that these appointments would further strengthen the functioning of the department and enable it to provide better and more timely government services to ex-servicemen, families of martyrs, widows and their dependents.

Mr. Bhagat said that the department had been facing a staff shortage for a long time, which was affecting welfare-related work concerning ex-servicemen, families of martyrs and other beneficiaries. He said that due to the continuous efforts being undertaken by the Punjab Government under the leadership of Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann, around 20% of the staff shortage in the Defence Services Welfare Department had been addressed. He said that the new appointments would help the department deliver its services to people more effectively at the district level.

Congratulating the newly appointed officers and employees, Mr. Bhagat said that a government job is not merely a means of employment but also a significant opportunity to serve the people. He urged the officers and employees to discharge their responsibilities with honesty, dedication and a people-centric approach.

He said that the primary responsibility of the Defence Services Welfare Department was to ensure the timely completion of welfare-related work concerning ex-servicemen, families of martyrs, widows and their dependents. Therefore, the newly appointed officers and employees should give priority to addressing the needs of these patriotic families. He said that the Punjab Government was fully committed to the welfare and rehabilitation of the families of martyrs and ex-servicemen in the state.

Principal Secretary of the Defence Services Welfare Department, Mr. Sumer Singh Gurjar, Director Brig. Bhupinder Singh Dhillon (Retd.) and other senior officers and employees were present on the occasion.

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*Under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana Top 10 Procedures Deliver 2.44 Lakh Cashless Treatments Worth ₹316.50 Crore*

*Dialysis, Heart Care And Knee Replacements Among Top 10 Procedures Covered Under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana*

*Healthcare matters only when treatment reaches patients before money becomes the problem: Dr Balbir Singh*

CHANDIGARH, August 9:A serious illness doesn't just test a patient's health, it often tests a family's finances. Bhagwant Mann Government's Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana is steadily changing that reality in Punjab by taking the cost of expensive medical treatment out of the equation.

The numbers tell the story. Under the scheme's ten most frequently availed procedures alone, 2,44,468 cashless treatments worth more than ₹316.50 crore have already been provided. From patients who require dialysis several times a week to those undergoing heart surgery, knee replacement or emergency Caesarean delivery, the scheme is covering treatments that many families would otherwise struggle to afford.

The pattern is no coincidence. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), around the world, health systems are seeing a sharp rise in chronic illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and kidney disorders. Punjab is no different. The growing demand for dialysis, cardiac care and joint replacement under the scheme reflects a healthcare system responding to diseases that don't disappear after one hospital visit, they require continuous, specialised and often costly care.

Data from the State Health Agency (SHA), Punjab, shows that Chronic Haemodialysis remains by far the most availed procedure under the scheme. A total of 1,87,656 dialysis sessions, worth more than ₹30.65 crore, have been provided, ensuring that patients living with chronic kidney disease can continue treatment without the constant worry of arranging money for every hospital visit.

The scheme has also supported 17,698 laparoscopic gall bladder surgeries, making it the second most common procedure. Close behind are 10,751 Total Knee Replacement surgeries, helping thousands of elderly patients regain mobility and independence. Another 9,317 women received cashless Caesarean deliveries, reducing financial stress at one of the most critical moments for any family.

Heart care has emerged as another major pillar of the scheme. As many as 8,734 patients underwent Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) along with diagnostic angiography, while 554 patients received Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), ensuring that life-saving cardiac treatment was not delayed because of cost.

The scheme has also covered 5,770 Percutaneous Nephrolithotomy (PCNL) procedures for kidney stone treatment, 2,247 lower ureter surgeries, 911 Cementless Total Hip Replacement surgeries, and 830 radical surgical procedures, underscoring its ability to support advanced, high-cost interventions across multiple specialties.

Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Balbir Singh said, "The true measure of any healthcare programme is not the number of beneficiaries on paper, but the number of families who receive timely treatment without being pushed into financial distress. The success of a healthcare scheme is reflected in the lives it changes. These figures represent thousands of families who received quality treatment without worrying about hospital bills. Whether it is a patient requiring lifelong dialysis, an elderly person undergoing knee replacement, a woman needing a safe Caesarean delivery, or someone requiring emergency heart treatment, Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana is ensuring that financial constraints never become a barrier to healthcare."

He added that the range of procedures covered under the scheme reflects Punjab's effort to build a healthcare system that is not limited to routine care but is capable of supporting patients through some of the costliest and most complex medical conditions.

Beyond the statistics, the data points to a larger shift. More people are surviving chronic illnesses because treatment is becoming financially accessible. More elderly patients are regaining mobility. More women are receiving institutional maternal care. And more families are focusing on recovery instead of scrambling to arrange hospital bills.

As the scheme expands, it is increasingly becoming one of Punjab's strongest social protection programmes, one that doesn't just fund healthcare, but shields families from the financial shock that serious illness so often brings.