Proposals to be sought for pilot scheme next week

Five shortlisted companies will be asked to submit their financial and technical bids.


Our Correspondent April 03, 2015
PHOTO: AFP

LAHORE: The Punjab Health Insurance Company will request for proposals for a pilot insurance scheme in four southern districts of the province from five shortlisted insurance companies in the coming week, the 2nd Board of Directors (BoD) meeting of the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company decided on Friday.

The meeting was chaired by MPA Ayesha Ghaus Pasha, the BoD chairperson.

Izhar Ahmad, the Health Foundation managing director and Punjab Health Insurance Scheme focal person, said he hoped the pilot insurance project would begin by August 14 this year. He said the companies would be given 21 days to submit their proposals, including a technical and a financial bid. He said the submission period could be extended if needed.

Ahmad said that according to the current estimates the insurance premium per family could be set at around Rs1,000 per year. This would include an insurance cover of up to Rs35,000, he said. However, he added that the final amount would be determined in view of the financial bids received from the five companies.

Explaining the delay in the start of the pilot project, he said registration of the provincial insurance company and preparations for request for proposals were time consuming tasks. He said the company was registered in February.

Selected families in Layyah, Rajanpur, Hafizabad and Chakwal districts will be given insurance cover under the pilot phase of the project. The families will be selected on the basis of a poverty scorecard prepared for the districts by the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). The insurance card will cover expenses incurred only during a stay at the hospital. It could be used at both government and private hospitals listed with the insurance company.

Recruitment approved for nine offices

Friday’s meeting also approved recruitment at nine offices in the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company.

Izhar Ahmad said applications would be sought next week for the posts of the chief executive officer, chief financial officer, a company secretary and six directors. He said candidates would be given 15 days to submit applications.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 4th, 2015.

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