Sehat Sahulat programme: K-P to get social health protection

Province helped by German govt for programme inaugurated by CM

PESHAWAR:

A social health protection scheme, Sehat Sahulat, was launched in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa by Chief Minister Pervez Khattak.

According to statement issued by the information ministry on Tuesday, the government launched the programme with financial support of the German government through KfW Bank.

“[Sehat Sahulat] is a five-year programme which costs Rs1,399.15 million,” it stated.



The scheme aims to improve the health of the targeted population by increasing their access to quality health services. The initiative will also reduce poverty as people will not have to pay for medicines through their own pockets.

For insurance

As per the statement the scheme is a health insurance programme which will be implemented by State Life Insurance Corporation Pakistan. “Both public and private health care providers have been put on the panel for the provision of health care services,” stated the document.



Under the scheme, the premium for a family would be Rs1,700 per year that will be paid to the insurance corporation by the K-P government with financial support from the German government.

“Each registered individual will get a coverage of up to Rs25,000 per year,” the document quoted Khattak as saying. “The amount will be increased to Rs50,000 by 2016. The provider payment mechanism is a cashless system with pre-established prices that should be paid to insurance companies.”

According to the document, K-P government’s share will be 5% of the total premium for the first year.



“It will gradually increase to 25% by the fifth year,” read the statement.

Moreover, the premium for the beneficiaries of Benazir Income Support Programme will also be paid by the government with support from the German government through KfW.

Phase-wise

The government has selected Mardan, Malakand, Chitral and Kohat districts initially for the scheme.

“However, it will also be introduced other districts in phases,” read the document.

The statement also added that the K-P government’s vision entails a “progressive movement towards a universal coverage model that takes into account the entire population”.

It added, “This should be done so that those belonging to very low-income backgrounds are protected and availability and quality of essential services is ensured where required.”

The launching ceremony of the programme was held at a local hotel. On the occasion, Minister for Health Shahram Tarakai,  Ambassador for Germany Ina Lepel and KfW Director Wolfgang Moellers were also in attendance.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 16^th,  2015.