Rs4.5 billion released for Sehat Card

Govt assures free treatment will continue, non-stop across the province

PESHAWAR:

Advisor to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Health, Ihtisham Ali, has said that in September Rs4.5 billion has been released to the State Life Insurance Corporation under Sehat Insaf Card.

He dismissed media reports regarding the suspension of free treatment services under the Sehat Insaf Card at some hospitals due to outstanding dues.

He clarified that the Sehat Card remained fully functional at all hospitals on its panel.

Ihtisham Ali emphasized that the reports about the suspension of Sehat Card services at certain hospitals are baseless.

He assured the public that the Sehat Card service would not be discontinued as long as he was in office. He acknowledged that while there are outstanding dues under the program, payments are being made continuously.

He further reiterated that the Sehat Card, a gift to the public by the founder of PTI, will continue uninterrupted. The payment of outstanding dues is underway in phases to ensure the smooth functioning of the program.

Background

It may be recalled that earlier this month the State Life Insurance Company withdrew its decision of stopping free treatment on Sehat Insaf Card across K-P hours after announcement.

Government assured the company a payment of Rs6 billion in a week after which the free treatment was restored.

Earlier the insurance company announced ending free treatment facility across the province due to non-payment of dues by the K-P's provincial government.

Official sources told The Express Tribune that the provincial government has paid Rs13 billion to the company since March but still it has to clear the Rs18 billion dues.

When the government failed to pay Rs5 billion as promised, the insurance company suspended free treatment.

It has also been decided that the Advisor to Chief Minister on Finance Muzamal Aslam and health minister will hold a detailed meeting with the company in this regard.

Government has promised to pay Rs3 billion per month but it is seldom fulfilled.

In March this year, K-P government announced fully restoring the free treatment facility on Sehat Insaf Card across the province after the interim government greatly reduced it due to lack of funds.

Then Health Minister, Syed Qasim Ali Shah addressed a press conference regarding the reactivation of free healthcare services under the Health Card Plus initiative for the people of the province.

The Provincial Minister shared that the Health Card initiative began in 2015, initially covering four districts of the province. By 2020, the scheme had expanded to cover the entire province, with an annual expenditure of Rs18 billion.

The Health Minister, along with Chief Executive Sehat Sahulat Program, Dr Riaz Tanoli and Program Director Dr Ijaz, provided updates on the ongoing efforts.

Praising the successful implementation of Health Card services in K-P, Minister Shah stated that 1,800 different medical treatments are now available for free in 118 public and private hospitals catering to various specialties across the province.