Healthcare for all

Of all the God’s infinite blessings bestowed on mankind health arguably is the greatest. However, we humans tend to be materialistic and shortsighted and consider wealth to be the end all and be all of life, completely ignoring the age old adage, ‘Health is Wealth’. Unfortunately, Pakistan does not accord priority to and sets a minimum percentage of its budget to health and education.

This makes it extremely difficult for the impoverished class to afford quality healthcare as millions have to cope with hardship and misery at government-run hospitals.

However, it seems that there is light at the end of the tunnel and with the Naya Pakistan government in power under Prime Minister Imran Khan, a bold and challenging initiative has been embarked upon with regard to healthcare for the poorer segment of society. An insurance health scheme called Sehat Insaf Card has been launched by the government in tribal districts giving access to poor people to an insured amount of Rs720,000 at any hospital in any of the designated cities.

For proponents of the scheme it can best be described as a godsend as quality healthcare is now beyond the means of a low income family. Detractors of the programme will question as to where the funds will come from as the present government is being throttled by a financial stranglehold and relying on doleouts from rich Arab countries and China.

There may be bureaucratic hurdles also as insurance companies tend to have terms and conditions to apply the scheme, or in case of emergencies one has to wait till morning for the process to start. Whatever the inherent flaws the intention is commendable and all Pakistanis irrespective of their political affiliation must hope the scheme takes off successfully.

 

Published in The Express Tribune, February 18^th, 2019.

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