Chandigarh: Over one crore people aged 30 and above have been screened for hypertension in health facilities and Aam Aadmi Clinics in Punjab, with 24 lakh enrolled for treatment, Punjab Health Minister Dr. Balbir Singh announced on Sunday. May 16 is observed as World Hypertension Day.
Government Initiatives for Hypertension Control
The Punjab government has strengthened screening, early diagnosis, and treatment across the state. Regular screening is being conducted at all health facilities, including 990 Aam Aadmi Clinics, where people aged 30 years and above are screened for hypertension and linked to timely treatment, the health minister said in a written statement.
Demographic Insights on Hypertension Patients
A government functionary revealed that most hypertension patients in Punjab belong to the middle-aged and elderly population, with the heaviest burden seen among those between 40 and 80 years of age. Data from the State Health Agency (SHA) indicates that Gurdaspur recorded patients as old as 94, while Mohali reported cases up to 98 years. Districts such as Patiala, Mohali, Hoshiarpur, Jalandhar, and Faridkot reported some of the highest and widest spreads of cases across both genders. In Amritsar and Ludhiana, hospital records show a particularly high concentration among women aged between 50 and 77 years.
Dr. Saurabh Sharma, associate professor and head of the Department of Cardiology at Government Medical College and Rajindra Hospital, Patiala, commented: "Hypertension is no longer confined to old age. Modern lifestyles bring a different set of health challenges across all age groups. While the majority of hypertension cases are seen among people aged 40 to 90 and above, we are also witnessing cases in teenagers and people in their 20s and 30s."
Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna and Other Measures
The health minister stated that the Punjab government's Mukh Mantri Sehat Yojna (MMSY) is bringing significant relief to patients battling high blood pressure and related ailments by ensuring affordable and timely healthcare access. Pointing out that hypertension — often described by doctors as the "silent killer" — was emerging as a growing health concern across all age groups, the health minister said the Punjab government is focusing on prevention, early detection, and treatment.
He also highlighted that CM di Yogshala, a landmark initiative of the Punjab government aimed at making yoga accessible to every section of society, is promoting stress management and healthier lifestyles to help control hypertension and other lifestyle diseases.
