*1 Lakh Dialysis Sessions, ₹16.5 Crore Covered: Bhagwant Mann Govt's Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna Emerges as Lifeline for Kidney Patients*

CHANDIGARH, May 1:So far, around 1 lakh dialysis procedures, worth ₹16.5 crore, have been performed under the Bhagwant Mann Government's Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna (MMSY).

As chronic kidney disease rises across India, government-backed cashless dialysis programmes are emerging as a lifeline. Yet experts warn that survival is still being shaped more by access and affordability than by cure.

Dhian Singh from Ludhiana visits the hospital twice a week. For someone who has been undergoing long-term dialysis, he often faces a range of persistent physical and metabolic symptoms, even with regular treatment. However, there is some relief when it comes to financial assistance, the use of the Sehat Card. “Ever since I registered for the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana, I have been getting my dialysis free of cost at Simrita Nursing Home,” says the man who has received cashless treatment more than a dozen times so far.

For patients living with chronic kidney disease (CKD), life does not move in days or weeks. It moves in cycles of a machine. Two to three times a week, for nearly four hours at a stretch, blood is drawn from the body, filtered through a dialysis unit, and returned cleansed of toxins that failing kidneys can no longer remove. It is a procedure that sustains life, but does not restore health.

Across India, CKD has become a major public health concern, closely linked to the rising burden of diabetes and hypertension.

Public health experts estimate that hundreds of thousands of patients progress to end-stage kidney disease each year, requiring either long-term dialysis or kidney transplantation to survive. Globally, the World Health Organization classifies CKD as one of the fastest-growing non-communicable diseases, driven by ageing populations and lifestyle-related risk factors. In India, however, the crisis is compounded by cost.

A single haemodialysis session can cost between ₹1,500 and ₹4,000 in the private sector. With most patients requiring two to three sessions a week, annual expenses can quickly run into several lakhs, well beyond the reach of most households without sustained financial assistance. For many families, treatment decisions are shaped as much by economics as by medical need.

It is in this space that government-supported programmes such as the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna (MMSY) in Punjab are playing a critical role in preventing treatment discontinuity.

In most patients, CKD is essentially the final pathway of multiple long-term conditions that silently damage kidney function for years before symptoms appear. Under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, dialysis services are offered free of cost in government and empanelled private hospitals, reducing out-of-pocket expenditure that earlier forced many patients to skip or delay sessions.

On this, Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said, “1 lakh free dialysis treatments, worth 16.5 crore have been delivered under Sehat Yojana so far. No patient should miss dialysis due to cost.”

A nephrologist, Dr Sourav Goyal from Delhi Heart and Multispeciality Hospital, Moga, emphasises that the impact of financial coverage in dialysis care goes far beyond convenience. “Dialysis is not curative; it is a life-sustaining therapy. If a patient misses even one or two sessions, toxins accumulate rapidly, and complications can become fatal,” Dr Goyal says. “What cashless access ensures is continuity, and in dialysis care, continuity is survival,” he adds.

Sharing his experience, he adds, “We perform more dialysis sessions each month than we used to earlier, and many are conducted as part of cashless treatment. This is a huge support for patients and also a relief for us as doctors, as it prevents treatment discontinuation due to financial burden.”

He further highlights that India’s larger challenge lies in early detection. “Most patients are diagnosed very late, when kidney function is already severely compromised. At that stage, options are limited to dialysis or transplant.”

Medical research consistently shows that a significant proportion of CKD patients in India face catastrophic health expenditure, with families often exhausting savings or falling into debt within months of starting treatment.

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*Take Immediate Action on Stray Dog Menace: Cabinet Minister Sanjeev Arora Directs MC Commissioners*

Chandigarh, May 1, 2026:Cabinet Minister for Industries & Commerce, Investment Promotion, Power and Local Government, Shri Sanjeev Arora, today directed Municipal Corporation Commissioners and Additional Deputy Commissioners (G&UD) to take immediate, coordinated and result-oriented action to effectively tackle the growing issue of stray dog menace across Punjab.

Describing the matter as a serious public safety and public health concern, the Minister emphasized that the increasing number of stray dogs in urban and semi-urban areas has become a significant challenge affecting daily life of citizens.

He highlighted that incidents of dog bites, attacks on children and elderly persons, and aggressive packs roaming in residential areas have created fear and insecurity among the public.

Shri Arora noted that the stray dog menace is not only a safety issue but also a major public health risk, as dog bites can lead to life-threatening diseases such as rabies. He added that frequent complaints are being received regarding stray dogs chasing pedestrians, two-wheeler riders, and school-going children, often leading to accidents and injuries.

The Minister further pointed out that the unchecked population growth of stray dogs is largely due to lack of systematic sterilization and improper waste management, which provides easy access to food sources. Open garbage dumps and food waste in public places contribute significantly to the proliferation of stray dogs, worsening the situation.

To address the issue comprehensively, Shri Arora issued the following directions:

Immediate scaling up of sterilization programs to control stray dog population in a humane and scientific manner.

Mass vaccination drives to prevent the spread of rabies and other zoonotic diseases.

Strengthening of dog shelters and holding facilities to manage aggressive or injured animals.

Improved solid waste management systems, ensuring timely disposal of garbage to eliminate food sources for stray dogs.

Constitution of dedicated monitoring teams at district and city levels for regular review and accountability.

Public awareness campaigns to educate citizens on safe behavior around stray animals and responsible waste disposal.

He stressed that all measures must be implemented strictly in accordance with animal welfare norms while ensuring that public safety remains the top priority.

Shri Arora directed that these initiatives be undertaken on a war footing, with visible and measurable outcomes. He also instructed all concerned officers to maintain close coordination with local bodies, veterinary departments, and NGOs to ensure effective execution of the action plan.

In order to ensure accountability and timely implementation, the Minister has asked all Municipal Corporation Commissioners and ADCs (G&UD) to submit a detailed action-taken report within seven days to his office.

Reiterating the government’s commitment, Shri Arora said that the Punjab Government is fully dedicated to creating safe, hygienic and citizen-friendly urban environments, and that no laxity in addressing this issue will be tolerated.