CHANDIGARH- Aam Aadmi Party Punjab on Sunday said the Opposition is running a deliberate campaign to mislead people on the ₹10 lakh health insurance scheme, using isolated incidents from non-empanelled hospitals to falsely project failure while ignoring the scheme’s proven impact. Citing that over 1.72 lakh patients have already received treatment worth ₹292 crore, the party asserted that the attempt to distort facts reflects either a lack of basic understanding of how such schemes function or a calculated effort to create confusion among beneficiaries and weaken a major public welfare initiative.
Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh addressed the issue directly, responding to claims made by Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa, who had shared a video of a patient from Amritsar. “The hospital shown in the video, Shoor Hospital, is not empanelled under the Chief Minister’s health scheme. More than 600 private hospitals are empanelled under the scheme, and treatment benefits are available only in these registered institutions. It is highly irresponsible for a Leader of the Opposition to share such content without verifying facts. This not only misleads the public but also creates unnecessary panic among beneficiaries, ” Dr. Balbir Singh stated.
He further clarified the framework of such schemes, noting that empanelment remains voluntary. “Hospital empanelment under schemes like Ayushman Bharat Yojana is voluntary, and no hospital can be forced to join. Therefore, presenting isolated incidents from non-empanelled hospitals as failures of the scheme is factually incorrect and misleading, ” Dr. Balbir Singh added.
Highlighting the scale and impact of the initiative, the Health Minister underlined the tangible benefits already delivered to the people of Punjab. “Over 1.72 lakh patients have already received treatment worth ₹292 crore, including critical procedures such as heart surgeries, brain operations, joint replacements, and emergency accident care. These figures clearly show the effectiveness and reach of the scheme. Attempts to malign it are condemnable, ” Dr. Balbir Singh said.
Calling out what he described as a deliberate attempt to spread confusion, the Health Minister demanded accountability. “Partap Singh Bajwa must issue a public apology to the people of Punjab for spreading misinformation and attempting to create confusion around a pro-people initiative, ” Dr. Balbir Singh asserted.