CM Bhagwant Mann: Punjab‘s flagship Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, already known for offering cashless treatment of up to Rs 10 lakh per family, is increasingly becoming a gateway to mental health care, with fresh State Health Agency data showing a striking pattern among beneficiaries.
Who Is Using It
SHA data shows that 75 percent of Sehat Yojana beneficiaries availing mental health coverage are between 18 and 45 years old, pointing to a working-age population that badly needs timely psychological care. The data set covers claims linked to mood disorders as well as psychoactive substance-use disorders, highlighting how closely mental health and substance dependence are intertwined in the state.
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Why It Matters
Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said the Mann-led government has focused on making healthcare accessible and affordable for every Punjab family, with particular attention to the wellbeing of young people. The finding gives the government a data-backed case for expanding awareness around early intervention, since substance dependence often carries psychological, behavioural, and social consequences that need sustained professional treatment and rehabilitation.
Part of a Wider Push
CM Bhagwant Mann: The Sehat Card’s mental health coverage now sits alongside two other state initiatives: the Yudh Nashean Virudh anti-drug campaign and the CM Di Yogshala wellness programme. Officials describe the three as complementary, spanning prevention, healthy living, and clinical treatment. The scheme itself has scaled rapidly, with more than 9 lakh Sehat Cards issued so far and coverage reaching close to 3 crore residents across nearly 65 lakh families, with usable access at over 820 empanelled hospitals.
With mental health emerging as a significant share of claims among younger beneficiaries, the government faces pressure to strengthen outreach further, particularly through the door-to-door enrolment drives already underway across villages and towns, to ensure more working-age Punjabis know this support exists.
