ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The federal government will spend Rs 9.1 billion on National Health Insurance Programme (NHIP) in three years benefitting two million needy families in 15 districts across the country.
Health experts on Monday said that allocation of huge amount for first of its kind programme would be a major milestone.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif launched the programme last week to provide healthcare and medical treatment to the poorest segment of the society.
Talking to media, a senior official in the Ministry of Health said that more than 6500 health cards had so far been distributed among the deserving people for getting insurance.
For the insurance cover, Rs 386 million are allocated each year for Punjab, Rs 30 million for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rs 300 million for Sindh, Rs 73 million for Balochistan, Rs 209 million for Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Rs 240 million for FATA, Rs 72 million for Gilgit-Baltistan and Rs 130 million for Islamabad.
The official said that ‘Pakistan Health Card’ is valid for only getting indoor treatments by the patients.
Executive Director Polyclinic Hospital, Dr Zahid Iqbal told media that through the health programme, the poor community would get benefit.
“Every registered patient would be provided treatment of upto Rs 250,000 to Rs 600,000,” he informed.
Balochistan Provincial government’s spokesman Anwar-ul-Haque Kakar said in a statement on Monday that National Health Insurance Cards should be given to people, having monthly income less than Rs 6,000 per month.
The treatment includes for diseases like tuberculosis, Hepatitis B and C, HIV and heart ailments.
It will also cover end-stage renal diseases and dialysis, organ failure (hepatic, renal, cardiopulmonary) and chemo and radio therapies and surgery for cancer.
A total of 80 hospitals across the country have been enrolled for the programme including CMH Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, Badin, Mardan, Kohat, Quetta, Loralai, Muzaffarabad and Skardu.
Meanwhile the hospitals in federal capital registered for providing treatment included Rawal Medical College, Begum Jan Hospital, Life Care Hospital, Al Nafees Hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Rawal Institute of Cardiology and Al Nusrat Hospital.
The beneficiaries could check their status by sending SMS at 8500 and at toll free number 0800-09009.
The Prime Minister approved the programme in June last year with a provision of Rs one billion in the budget.
Prime Minister’s National Health Programme is a step forward towards making Pakistan a real welfare state, which, aimed at providing quality healthcare.
The National Health Programme was fulfillment of one of the important promises of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) election manifesto 2013.
National Health Programme has been launched despite the resource constraint. “It is PML-N government desire that there is a quality hospital in every city and town across the country, to cater to the health needs of the common people.
Health cards will be distributed to 1.2 million families in the first phase, enabling beneficiaries to get free medical treatment of seven diseases at public and private hospitals.
Around 63,000 people will be issued health cards through 300 centers in Islamabad and Lahore which have initially been established for the distribution of health cards.
National Health Programme to be launched with the cooperation of State Life Corporation and National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) would provide indoor treatment and admission to hospitals for the ailing.
Under the programme the cardholders will be able to get free medical treatment and medicines of up to Rs 300,000 at the designated public and private hospitals.
In case of a need for further hospitalization and treatment was felt, a patient could be provided an additional funding of up to Rs 300,000 through Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal.
In this regard Prime Minister has already directed Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to look into the matter and said if required; the funding for the Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal would be further enhanced.
The programme will be extended to 23 districts of Pakistan.
The hospitals participating in the programme would be upgraded and provided necessary medical equipment.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has already directed the Minister of State for Health Saira Afzal Tarar to personally monitor and ensure that the programme runs smoothly.
Source: APP
