92-Year-Old Gets Free Surgery Days After Punjab Program Launch

Ram Rattan Singh spent more than 10 years in pain, watching a bladder stone condition slowly steal his ability to walk, work, and live normally. At 92, the dairy farmer from Ayali Kalan village had become bedridden, but his family couldn't afford the surgery that could help him.

Then Punjab's new Mukh Mantri Sehat Bima Yojana launched on January 22, and everything changed. Just three days later, Singh became one of the program's first beneficiaries, receiving free surgery to remove an unusually large, flower-shaped stone measuring 85 millimeters from his bladder.

Dr. Divyanshu Gupta, who performed the surgery at Sukhveen Hospital in Jagraon, said the procedure carried significant risk given Singh's age. The surgery happened early Sunday morning, and by 4 pm that same day, Singh was talking with his family and feeling fine.

The new program upgraded Singh's previous health coverage from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh annually at no cost to his family. The surgery, valued at Rs 18,500 under the scheme, didn't cost them a single rupee.

Singh's grandson Arshpreet explained how desperate things had become. "My grandfather had been suffering from this stone problem for over 10 years," the 20-year-old said. The family survives on income from three dairy animals and farm labor, making surgery impossible without insurance.

"We were scared because of his age, but seeing him recover now is a huge relief," Arshpreet added. For two years, Singh's condition had worsened so severely he couldn't even use the toilet on his own.

The Ripple Effect

Punjab's new health insurance program reaches approximately 65 lakh families across the state through 823 government and private hospitals. The government allocated Rs 1,200 crore for the initiative, which provides cashless treatment up to Rs 10 lakh per family annually.

Dr. Gupta said Singh's case perfectly demonstrates why the program matters. "He is extremely poor and could not have afforded surgery otherwise," the doctor explained. When patients like Singh receive timely treatment, the benefit reaches exactly who it should.

Ministers and MLAs are now visiting constituencies to spread awareness about the program, ensuring more families learn about coverage that could transform their lives. The initiative automatically upgraded existing beneficiaries from previous health insurance schemes.

Singh's recovery offers hope to countless families facing similar situations: serious health conditions they simply cannot afford to treat. In a country where medical costs can devastate family finances, programs like this turn impossible choices into accessible care.