Punjab has witnessed a rise in acute febrile illnesses amid soaring temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius, with 5,840 cases treated under the Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana over the last four months, according to a health department report.
Figures shared under the scheme show that Rs 1.31 crore was released for the treatment of these cases.
Data received from the State Health Agency (SHA), Punjab, also reveal a significant burden of water-borne and respiratory illnesses. Enteric fever accounted for 1,396 registrations, with claims worth Rs 30.47 lakh. Pneumonia followed with 377 cases, for which Rs 11.06 lakh was released, while acute bronchitis was recorded in 326 cases, costing over Rs 9.24 lakh.
The data further show that 12 dengue cases were recorded across the state, with claims worth Rs 40,880, along with six chikungunya and three malaria cases. As many as four persons were hospitalised due to heat stroke.
A study by the National Institutes of Health states that seasonal outbreaks can shift rapidly depending on rain, mosquito breeding and local sanitation conditions.
Dr Vikas Goyal, Medical Superintendent, Civil Hospital, Patiala, said the current trend reflects the “predictable seasonal load" seen in OPDs every year, adding that most cases are manageable at the primary care level.
He noted that extreme heat leads to a rise in acute febrile illnesses, vomiting, diarrhoea, headaches, respiratory infections, and skin or eye allergies, often worsened when people delay seeking medical consultation due to the hot weather.
Children remain particularly vulnerable during periods of extreme heat and humidity.
Dr Shashi Kant Dhir, Professor and Head, Pediatrics, Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, warned that infants and young children are especially susceptible to infections. The warning signs, he said, include poor feeding, repeated vomiting, fast breathing, dehydration, seizures and persistent fever, and should never be ignored.
“Any fever in a baby below three months requires urgent medical attention,” said Dr Dhir.
The data also show that the Punjab government’s flagship healthcare initiative has delivered free treatment worth Rs 465.36 crore to beneficiaries within three months of its launch. This translates into an average expenditure of nearly Rs 155 crore per month.
According to official figures, more than 42 lakh health cards have been issued so far, while treatment has been provided in 2.77 lakh cases following pre-authorisation approvals. There has also been an increase in orthopaedic procedures, particularly knee replacements, with nearly 4,600 surgeries carried out so far.
