Almost two million Balochistan families to receive health cards

Facility will help them get treatment at 500 hospitals across the country

QUETTA:

Balochistan Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Secretary Noorul Haq Baloch has announced that approximately 1.82 million families in the largest province of the country will be issued health cards within the next two months.

“There will be an insurance policy of Rs1 million for each family,” Baloch said, adding that the identification card of the people living in Balochistan will be their health card. “Balochistan ID card holders across the province will be able to avail health policy.”

The medical education secretary also said the health card will provide treatment facility in 500 hospitals of the country, including Quetta.

“Balochistan ID card holders will be able to seek treatment in private hospitals,” Baloch said. “Health Card will revolutionise the health sector in the province.”

He added that every hospital will buy its own medicines to curb drug corruption. “The rates of medicines will be fixed by the health department. Packaging of medicines provided in all government hospitals in Balochistan will be different.”

The secretary highlighted how legislation has been enacted to set up a Health Care Commission to improve the quality of hospitals. “The Healthcare Commission will soon start its work.”

 

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2021.