Terming the Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana a new benchmark for the well-being of the people of the state, Punjab Health & Family Welfare and Labour Minister Mr. Balbir Singh Sidhu today said that more than 50 thousand patients got free treatment worth Rs.55 crore under this scheme so far.Addressing the pension approval letter distribution function organized by District Social Security Department to mark the International Senior Citizens' Day in the auditorium of Punjab Health Systems Corporation Phase-6, Mr. Sidhu said that patients are getting 236 essential medicines free of cost in all government hospitals.Urging people to take benefit of the ambitious Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana, the health minister said that this scheme has covered more than 75 per cent of the population of the state. "Beneficiaries could get free treatment up to five lakh per family in 611 empanelled government and private hospitals", he said, adding that from the day, he assumed charge of the office of health minister, four thousand vacant posts of paramedical staff including Staff Nurses, ANMs, Lab Technicians, Pharmacists, Multi-purpose Health Workers etc, have been filled.
He said that shortage of doctors in hospitals is also being addressed.Later, the Health Minister handed over pension approval letters to 271 old age, widows and differently-abled beneficiaries. He also honoured dignitaries, who brought laurels in social welfare sector besides honouring National Awardee Prem Singh for serving in field of leprosy patients.Additional Deputy Commissioner (Development) Mrs. Aashika Jain thanked the audience, while District Social Security Officer Mr. Ravinder Singh Rahi gave detailed information about the schemes of the department.Mr. Gurpreet Singh G.P., MLA Bassi Pathana, Mr. Harkesh Chand Sharma Machhali Kalan, Political Secretary to Health Minister, Mr. Rishabh Jain, Senior Deputy Mayor Municipal Corporation SAS Nagar, Dr. Manjit Singh, Civil Surgeon SAS Nagar, Mrs. Arvinder Kaur, CDPO Kharar-2, Mrs. Suman Sharma, CDPO Dera Bassi, Dr. Kuldeep Singh, Assistant Civil Surgeon SAS Nagar and Mr. Jaspreet Singh Gill, President, District Congress Committee (Urban) Mohali were also present on this occasion.