Punjab’s Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY) has funded nearly Rs 6.28 crore worth of neonatal care over the past seven months, benefiting more than 4,400 newborns, the state government said on Friday. The announcement came as the government highlighted the case of a premature baby girl from Nawanshahr who received Rs 3 lakh worth of cashless treatment under the scheme after being born at just 27 weeks of gestation and weighing 700 grams.Punjab health and family welfare minister Balbir Singh said the baby underwent 50 days of specialised treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at an empanelled private hospital.“The case also reflects the growing use of the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana for treating high-risk mothers and newborns across Punjab. The data show that neonatal care accounts for the largest share of high-risk birth claims. Over the last nearly seven months, the Special Neonatal Care Package has supported 1,869 babies, with claims of Rs 2.50 crore, while the Intensive Neonatal Care Package has benefited 1,719 newborns, with claims of Rs 3.78 crore. The scheme has also covered 434 Advanced Neonatal Care Package cases and 382 Critical Care Neonatal Package cases, ensuring life-saving treatment for babies born with severe complications. The MMSY is protecting lives and reducing the financial burden on people,” he said.According to the state health agency, the scheme has also supported 474 women with high-risk pregnancies, including 70 premature deliveries, 45 cases of severe anaemia, 19 cases of severe pre-eclampsia/eclampsia and two major fetal malformation cases.
