Health insurance scheme for poor on the cards

All provincial governments will implement the health insurance system and make arrangements according to needs.

ISLAMABAD:

The federal and provincial governments are set to initiate health insurance for needy patients.

The decision was taken at a national consultative meeting held here on Monday, said a press release.

The meeting was chaired by the Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination (NHSRC) Saira Afzal Tarar, and attended by provincial ministers and senior officials of the ministry.

She said the main objective of the initiative is to provide healthcare and treatment facilities to the people living below poverty line.

All provincial governments will implement the health insurance system and will make arrangements according to their own needs. She said provincial and federal governments must select insurance companies together.

The federal government will support treatment whereas provincial governments will bear expanses of minor diseases, she said.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 29^th, 2014.