New Delhi, March 25 -- State says the scheme is reducing delays in emergency treatment by removing upfront payment and approval hurdles for families

Punjab has cited the treatment of a one-year-old child with pneumonia in Sri Muktsar Sahib as an example of how its Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna is being used to provide cashless medical care without upfront payment or procedural delays.

According to the state government, the child, Khwaish, was admitted to an empanelled private facility, Deep Hospital, where treatment began immediately as the family already held a Sehat Card under the scheme. The government said the family did not have to arrange money in advance or wait for administrative clearance before the hospital initiated treatment.

The...