Chief Minister Health Scheme has become life-saving shield, providing new support to high-risk deliveries and newborns

July 4, 2026

Pregnancy and childbirth are the most vulnerable periods for any family. However, when a pregnancy falls into the high-risk category or a newborn requires specialized medical care after birth, the rising cost of treatment can be overwhelming. At such a time, the Punjab government’s “Chief Minister’s Health Scheme” has emerged as a strong support for thousands of families.

This scheme is strengthening maternal and child health protection by providing completely cashless access to advanced healthcare services for high-risk pregnancies, complicated deliveries, and critically ill newborns. According to data from the National Family Health Survey (NFHS-5), nearly every second pregnancy in the country falls into the high-risk category, making this scheme a crucial step towards ensuring timely and quality treatment.

Conditions such as lack of education, poverty, short pregnancies, previous delivery complications, and previous cesarean sections pose risks to both mother and child. Researchers say that women from socially and economically vulnerable groups face the greatest risk, highlighting the need to strengthen maternal health services and awareness programs. The Sehat Card has emerged as a vital support for women who require surgical care due to prolonged labor, health problems, fetal abnormalities, or complications from previous cesarean deliveries.

According to official data from the state health agency, as of May 25, 2026, a total of 7,300 maternal and newborn care cases were provided under the scheme, costing approximately ₹7.04 crore. This included 5,300 high-risk cesarean deliveries, costing ₹6.37 crore. These figures reflect the scheme’s growing role in providing high-risk pregnancy and emergency obstetric services in Punjab.

Deepika, a 28-year-old beneficiary from Patiala, who faced several complications during her pregnancy, including anemia, shared a personal experience, stating that her cesarean section was completely cashless under the Sehat Card. Her husband, Manoj, said the entire treatment went smoothly without any financial burden, which was a relief for them.

Similarly, 31-year-old Diksha Sonkar received timely maternal and neonatal care at the Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences Hospital during the birth of her third child, where the entire treatment was cashless under the scheme. Her husband, Vikas Sonkar, said, “We already have two daughters, and we were worried about complications during our third delivery.” Vikas explains that financial stress increases whenever someone in the family has to go to the hospital. “Whenever a medical emergency arises, it’s a worry for families like ours,” he added.

Vikas, a daily wage laborer, further explains that during times like these, we have to borrow money on interest; which highlights the harsh reality of how low-income workers struggle to afford healthcare. He adds, “But thanks to the Sehat Card, this time the entire treatment was completed without any worries.”

In addition to maternity services, the scheme also provides specialized medical care for critically ill and premature newborns. According to official data from the state health agency, Punjab, a total of 2,094 newborns were treated under various packages under the scheme. Basic Neonatal Care, which provides support to infants who are treated alongside their mothers, saw 881 newborns treated, costing ₹5.82 lakh.

Similarly, 777 newborns requiring short-term intensive care unit treatment benefited from a special neonatal care package, costing ₹28.27 lakh. Under the Intensive Neonatal Care Package, 207 newborns received support for critical conditions such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) support, ventilation for less than 24 hours, and neonatal infections, costing ₹15.65 lakh. According to official data, 116 extremely vulnerable newborns weighing 1,200 to 1,499 grams or requiring prolonged ventilator support received advanced neonatal care, costing ₹9.30 lakh. Additionally, 64 newborns with preterm birth, multi-organ complications, or severe medical instability received critical neonatal care, costing ₹7.88 lakh.

In addition, 18 newborns were provided long-term chronic neonatal care support. Furthermore, 17 infants were included in long-term neonatal care, requiring long-term treatment for serious conditions such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and necrotizing enterocolitis, costing ₹56,000. The Chief Minister’s Health Scheme is emerging as a major health protection shield for families across the state. To date, approximately 4.48 million registrations have been made under the scheme.