Punjab taps ASHA workers to accelerate Sehat Yojana enrolments

Chandigarh: In a push to accelerate enrolments under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, the Punjab govt has decided to carry out a door-to-door outreach drive using its extensive network of Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers.Over 19,000 ASHA workers and around 900 facilitators are now driving registrations across villages in the state. Each worker has been assigned a population of nearly 1,000 residents, covering about 250 households, where they are conducting door-to-door visits, spreading awareness about the scheme and assisting families with enrolment at Seva Kendras and Common Service Centres.According to officials, the approach ensures that awareness reaches households directly, especially in rural areas, while also guiding families through the enrolment process so that registration and verification are completed smoothly without delays or confusion.Emphasising the intent behind the initiative, Punjab minister of health and family welfare Dr Balbir Singh said, "CM Bhagwant Singh Mann has made it clear that in Punjab, no family should have to suffer because they cannot afford treatment. Our ASHA workers are taking this promise to people's homes, ensuring that every family is aware and able to enrol. This is not just a scheme on paper; it is a guarantee we are delivering directly to people, one household at a time."He said the impact of this sustained on-ground mobilisation was already visible, with ASHA-led efforts contributing to nearly 10 lakh enrolments in the last 20 days alone, significantly strengthening the pace at which residents across Punjab were being brought under health coverage.To sustain this momentum, the ASHA-led model is supported through a structured incentive system, with workers being incentivised for successful enrolments, ensuring accountability and consistent outreach across regions.The scale of the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana continues to expand across Punjab, with nearly 50,000 residents enrolling every day and over 35 lakh ‘Sehat Cards' already issued. Districts such as Ludhiana, Patiala and Jalandhar continue to lead enrolments at scale, reflecting strong participation across both urban and rural areas, the minister added.Beyond enrolment, the scheme is actively delivering healthcare outcomes. So far, over 2 lakh treatments worth Rs 300 crore have been carried out, including more than 40,000 surgical procedures across cardiac care, dialysis, orthopaedics, cancer treatment and emergency interventions. This is backed by a Rs 2,000-crore allocation in the 2026-27 Punjab Budget to further expand the scheme's reach, he said.MSID:: 129950000 413 |