As the world celebrates World Hypertension Day, Punjab Government’s Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY) is emerging as an important safety net for patients suffering from hypertension and related diseases by ensuring affordable and timely health care.High blood pressure, often called the “silent killer” by doctors, gives little warning before it triggers stroke, heart failure or kidney disease. This condition is now common in all age groups.With hypertension rising as a major health concern in Punjab, the state government is focusing on prevention, early detection and treatment. While CM Di Yogshala promotes healthy living, Aam Aadmi Clinic ensures prompt diagnosis – over 1 crore people have been screened and 24 lakh have been treated – and MMSY provides cashless care, helping prevent serious complications.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the burden of hypertension is increasing rapidly in India due to poor eating habits, stress, tobacco use, lack of physical activity and irregular daily routine. Doctors warn that many patients remain unaware of their condition until serious complications develop. Amid this crisis, Punjab’s Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana has become a vital safety net, helping thousands of people receive treatment without the burden of unaffordable medical bills.Health Minister Dr Balbir Singh said that regular check-ups are being done at all health facilities including 990 Aam Aadmi Clinics, where people aged 30 years and above are being screened for high blood pressure and linked to timely treatment. He said more than 1 crore people aged 30 and above have been screened and 24 lakh have been enrolled for treatment. “Monthly follow-ups, free medicines and timely referrals ensure continuous care with strong rural-urban primary health care coverage,” he said.A landmark initiative of the Punjab Government aimed at making yoga accessible to every section of the society, CM The Yogashala has conducted over 10,600 yoga classes with approximately 3 lakh participants. The initiative promotes yoga, stress management and healthy lifestyle to help control high blood pressure and other lifestyle diseases.Hospital admissions related to stroke, heart emergencies and kidney diseases caused by uncontrolled blood pressure are covered under the MMSY scheme, providing financial relief to families already struggling with emotional distress.Most of the hypertensive patients in Punjab belong to the middle-aged and elderly population, with the highest burden seen in people aged 40 to 80 years. Data from the State Health Agency (SHA) shows that Gurdaspur recorded patients up to 94 years of age, while SAS Nagar recorded cases up to 98 years of age, underscoring the deep reach of the disease among senior citizens.The highest and widespread cases in both genders were reported in districts like Patiala, SAS Nagar, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar and Faridkot. In Amritsar and Ludhiana, hospital records show a particularly high concentration among women aged 50 to 77 years.Dr Saurabh Sharma, associate professor and head of the department of cardiology at Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, says hypertension is no longer just an old person’s disease.“Modern lifestyle brings a different set of health challenges for all age groups. While most cases of hypertension are seen in people aged 40 to 90 years and above, we are also seeing cases in teenagers and people in their twenties and thirties,” he says.Dr. Sharma says that lifestyle factors like stress, poor diet, lack of exercise and irregular routine play a major role. He warned that complications are emerging earlier than before. “What we’re seeing now is not just high blood pressure, but its complications coming from earlier — stroke, heart failure and kidney disease.”On schemes like Mukhyamantri Sehat Yojana, Dr Sharma says they are important as they ensure that patients do not delay treatment due to financial fear. “In a hypertensive emergency, delay is often the difference between recovery and tragedy.”Health officials say the importance of the scheme lies not only in treatment but also in timely intervention. In earlier years, many families used to delay hospitalization due to financial fear. Such delays often prove dangerous, sometimes even fatal. Under the Sehat Yojana, patients are increasingly seeking medical attention earlier, thereby increasing their chances of recovery.For middle-class families, pensioners and government employees, the scheme has become a buffer against catastrophic health care expenditure.