Punjab Health and family welfare minister Balbir Singh CHANDIGARH: Punjab’s Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY) has covered 12,467 treatments for severe sepsis and septic shock at a cost of Rs 51.58 crore till September 1, highlighting the growing medical and financial burden of the life-threatening condition.According to data released by the Punjab health department, 10,961 treatments for severe sepsis accounted for Rs 44.33 crore, while 1,506 septic-shock treatments involved expenditure of Rs 7.25 crore. Health and family welfare minister Balbir Singh said timely recognition was critical as sepsis could rapidly progress to organ failure and septic shock.Sepsis occurs when the body’s response to an infection becomes dysregulated, potentially causing tissue damage, organ failure and death. Almost any infection can lead to sepsis, with infections affecting the lungs, urinary tract, skin and gastrointestinal tract among common sources.“When sepsis leads to serious circulatory problems and inadequate blood flow to vital organs, the patient may progress to septic shock,” Singh said.Patients with septic shock may require intensive care, intravenous fluids, antibiotics, medicines to maintain blood pressure, oxygen or mechanical ventilation and other organ-support measures. The cost of such treatment can rise rapidly, making financial coverage crucial for families.Under the MMSY, eligible families receive cashless health coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh annually. The government said the scheme is intended to ensure that financial constraints do not delay access to critical treatment.Doctors also flagged the particular vulnerability of newborns to sepsis. Dr Shashi Kant Dhir, professor and head of the department of paediatrics at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, said even subtle changes in a newborn’s behaviour could indicate serious illness.Premature and low-birth-weight babies can deteriorate rapidly, he said. Poor feeding, unusual sleepiness, feeling cold and changes in breathing should prompt immediate medical assessment.Antibiotics are essential when bacterial infections are suspected or confirmed, but their inappropriate use can contribute to antimicrobial resistance. Doctors advise against self-medication, using leftover antibiotics or stopping prescribed treatment without medical advice.Join conversationView All Comments →Share your thoughts in the commentsInsightfulAgreeDisagreeSkepticalConcerningPromisingWorth ReadingBig DevelopmentPost CommentBe respectful · TOI community guidelinesWarning signs of sepsis in adults can include confusion, breathing difficulty, extreme pain or discomfort, fever or unusually low body temperature, clammy skin and a rapid heart rate.The health department said the treatment figures reinforce the need for both early recognition of sepsis and adequate financial protection when patients require intensive care.Get the latest India News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosSonia Gandhi’s ‘Belonging’ Book Row: Why Did Penguin India Drop the Publishing Deal?Centre Defers Census In Manipur Amid NRC ProtestsCash Shortage Unlocks ₹17 Crore Fake Note Mystery At PNB’s Saharanpur Currency ChestBihar, Jharkhand End 25-Year Dispute, Sign Sone River Water-Sharing Agreement‘Spreading Jhooth Ki Goonj’: PM Modi Hits Out At Rahul Gandhi, Hails 7.8% GDP Growth In New VideoNepal Flood Crisis: 8,900 Army Personnel Deployed As Search For Missing People ContinuesDelhi Draft Voter Roll Out: 47.7 Lakh Electors Excluded, Claims Allowed Till September 30Akhilesh Yadav’s Big Attack On UP Govt; Divya Mittal Resignation & Meerut Custody RowIndus Waters Row: India Rejects Hague Court’s Jurisdiction, Says Treaty Suspension Will Continue’Dumped 40 KM Away In Delhi’: Teen Allegedly Gang-Raped In Empty Sleeper Bus, Two Accused Arrested123Hot PicksNepal floodGrand Canyon floodsSugar importMumbai milk priceCNG priceGoa anti-conversion billTN milk price hikeMaharashtra SIRDelhi trafficTop TrendingPM ModiDelhi TrafficDan DriscollPakistan Hindu Temple DemolishedUS Iran WarGlenn PhillipsPascal WehrleinConnor McDavidDelhi SIRLebron James
CHANDIGARH: Punjab’s Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojana (MMSY) has covered 12,467 treatments for severe sepsis and septic shock at a cost of Rs 51.58 crore till September 1, highlighting the growing medical and financial burden of the life-threatening condition.According to data released by the Punjab health department, 10,961 treatments for severe sepsis accounted for Rs 44.33 crore, while 1,506 septic-shock treatments involved expenditure of Rs 7.25 crore. Health and family welfare minister Balbir Singh said timely recognition was critical as sepsis could rapidly progress to organ failure and septic shock.Sepsis occurs when the body’s response to an infection becomes dysregulated, potentially causing tissue damage, organ failure and death. Almost any infection can lead to sepsis, with infections affecting the lungs, urinary tract, skin and gastrointestinal tract among common sources.“When sepsis leads to serious circulatory problems and inadequate blood flow to vital organs, the patient may progress to septic shock,” Singh said.Patients with septic shock may require intensive care, intravenous fluids, antibiotics, medicines to maintain blood pressure, oxygen or mechanical ventilation and other organ-support measures. The cost of such treatment can rise rapidly, making financial coverage crucial for families.Under the MMSY, eligible families receive cashless health coverage of up to Rs 10 lakh annually. The government said the scheme is intended to ensure that financial constraints do not delay access to critical treatment.Doctors also flagged the particular vulnerability of newborns to sepsis. Dr Shashi Kant Dhir, professor and head of the department of paediatrics at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College, Faridkot, said even subtle changes in a newborn’s behaviour could indicate serious illness.Premature and low-birth-weight babies can deteriorate rapidly, he said. Poor feeding, unusual sleepiness, feeling cold and changes in breathing should prompt immediate medical assessment.Antibiotics are essential when bacterial infections are suspected or confirmed, but their inappropriate use can contribute to antimicrobial resistance. Doctors advise against self-medication, using leftover antibiotics or stopping prescribed treatment without medical advice.
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Warning signs of sepsis in adults can include confusion, breathing difficulty, extreme pain or discomfort, fever or unusually low body temperature, clammy skin and a rapid heart rate.The health department said the treatment figures reinforce the need for both early recognition of sepsis and adequate financial protection when patients require intensive care.
