Chandigarh: As Punjab is facing the scorching heat and increasing cases of gastroenteritis and dehydration, the ‘Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana’ of the Bhagwant Mann government has emerged as a strong support for thousands of families.

The impact of extreme heat is no longer limited to fields and roads, but has reached hospital wards, where a large number of patients are seeking treatment due to dehydration and stomach infections. However, amid the rising disease, many families across the state are getting relief from cashless treatment through Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana.

Cashless treatment was provided to 3,279 serious cases under the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana from January to April, with ₹73.42 lakh spent on gastro and stomach diseases alone.

The number of patients suffering from stomach infection, vomiting, weakness and severe dehydration is continuously increasing in government and empaneled private hospitals. According to the treatment records of the scheme, more than 1,400 patients received treatment for gastrointestinal problems to dehydration in the month of April alone.

Among these cases, patients with acute gastroenteritis with moderate dehydration remained the highest, numbering more than 1,050. About 115 patients were suffering from severe dehydration, while more than 250 patients had to be hospitalized due to dehydration and extreme fatigue due to repeated vomiting.

According to Dr. Shashi Kant Dhir, Professor and Head of the Department of Pediatrics, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, extreme heat is increasing the cases of stomach infections. He said, “Food spoils quickly in extreme heat and contaminated water and unhygienic eating habits increase the risk of diseases.” He further said, “Patients often reach the hospital with complaints like diarrhoea, stomach pain, vomiting, dizziness and fever. In severe cases, delayed treatment can also lead to problems like falling blood pressure, kidney complications and mental confusion due to electrolyte imbalance.”

Whereas in the elderly, recovery is slow in this season and water holding capacity is also less. While Dr. Shashi Kant Dhir warned, “Children also become victims of dehydration rapidly. Due to vomiting and diarrhea, fluids in children reduce rapidly.”

According to statistics, this summer’s health crisis has hit senior citizens the hardest. More than 1,290 elderly people received treatment under the scheme in April, while around 120 children have received treatment.

Hoshiarpur district was the worst affected, where more than 250 elderly patients suffering from acute gastroenteritis with only moderate dehydration were treated. In Jalandhar also, more than 100 cases were registered under the same category. A similar trend was seen in Patiala, Ludhiana, Rupnagar, Barnala, Sangrur, Bathinda and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar.

At the same time, many cases of vomiting and dehydration were reported in Muktsar Sahib, Pathankot, Fatehgarh Sahib and Gurdaspur districts, in which many patients had to be immediately admitted to the hospital.

However, the biggest relief for countless families has been not just treatment but also freedom from financial burden. Under the Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana, tests, medicines, IV fluids, hydration therapy and hospital treatment are being provided to the eligible citizens without any cost.

According to officials, the Sehat Card has encouraged people to seek medical help on time rather than delaying treatment due to fear of high expenses. This has proven to be especially important for economically weaker families, many of whom previously delayed going to the hospital until the condition became serious.

Dr. Shashi Kant Dhir advised, “Parents should take extra precautions during summers, such as giving children adequate water, dressing them in light cotton clothes, protecting them from the hot afternoon sun and providing fresh home-cooked food.” He also urged that parents should immediately seek medical help if children show symptoms such as fever, vomiting, lethargy or dehydration.

At a time when the incidence of seasonal diseases is increasing in the state, ‘Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana’ is no longer just a welfare scheme. For many Punjabi families battling the scorching heat, this has become an important guarantee of timely treatment and healthcare, without the fear of financial burden during treatment.

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