we Just Kept Going: A Punjab Family’s Journey Through Cancer, Debt, Fears, And Bhagwant Mann Govt's Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna

Apr18,2026 | Jagrati Lahar Bureau | Chandigarh/patiala

*‘We just kept going’: A Punjab family’s journey through cancer, debt, fears, and Bhagwant Mann Govt's Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna*

*Treatment worth over ₹8 lakh covered under Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, Patiala driver’s mother recovers from cancer*

CHANDIGARH/PATIALA, April 18:

The journey from Patiala to Sangrur may appear short on a map, but for Gurpinder Jeet Singh, a driver from Patiala, it became a long and difficult passage marked by repeated hospital visits, rising medical expenses, and the struggle to save his mother’s life. His 65-year-old mother, Baljit Kaur, was diagnosed with uterine cancer after initially suffering from weakness and loss of appetite, setting off months of treatment, uncertainty, and financial stress for the family.

Recalling the early signs of illness, Gurpinder Jeet Singh said, “She gradually stopped eating. Even drinking water became difficult.” He added that after visiting local clinics, she was referred to Rajindra Hospital, where tests confirmed the diagnosis and treatment began immediately, but expenses rose rapidly.

Detailing the financial strain, Gurpinder Jeet Singh said, “In the first few weeks, we spent over ₹60,000. As a driver, arranging more money was difficult. I started thinking about loans and selling belongings.” He further stated that doctors advised chemotherapy followed by surgery depending on her response, and during this period of consultations across hospitals, he came to know about the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna.

Explaining how the scheme changed the course of treatment, Gurpinder Jeet Singh said, “Someone at the hospital mentioned it. I didn’t believe it at first, but I checked and completed the formalities.” He added that after verification, the family was enrolled under the scheme, which provides cashless treatment across government and empanelled private hospitals, requiring only basic identification for enrolment.

Following registration, Baljit Kaur continued chemotherapy and later underwent surgery, with doctors emphasising that uninterrupted treatment was crucial. She underwent around 12 chemotherapy sessions before an eight-hour surgery and remained in the ICU on ventilator support for several days before stabilising. Recalling those moments, Gurpinder Jeet Singh said, “She was in the ICU for days. We just waited outside.”

He further shared that she was later discharged after observation and is now recovering at home, with gradual improvement. Estimating the overall cost of treatment, Gurpinder Jeet Singh said that chemotherapy, surgery, ICU stay and medicines would have cost around ₹8–10 lakh, with most expenses covered under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna, though some medicines had to be purchased separately due to non-availability at the hospital.

Highlighting the biggest relief for the family, Gurpinder Jeet Singh said, “The biggest relief is that we didn’t have to stop treatment because of money.”

Today, Baljit Kaur is back home and recovering slowly, eating a little more, speaking a little more, and regaining strength with each passing day. The treatment, worth more than ₹8 lakh, including chemotherapy, surgery, ICU care, medicines, and hospital stay, was largely covered under the scheme, easing what once seemed like an insurmountable burden.

For the family, this journey reflects both the harsh reality of serious illness and the critical role of accessible healthcare support in ensuring that financial constraints do not come in the way of life-saving treatment. The road from Patiala to Sangrur remains the same in distance, but for this family, it became the path where despair gave way to dignity, relief, and hope.

We-Just-Kept-Going-A-Punjab-Family-s-Journey-Through-Cancer-Debt-Fears-And-Bhagwant-Mann-Govt-s-Mukh-Mantri-Sehat-Yojna