Health Minister Saira Afzal Tarar has announced the issuance of health card program at the launch of the National Health Program on Thursday.
She upheld that this program will help the underprivileged to receive treatment at private and public hospitals at no cost.
She explained that the prime minister’s scheme for allocating the Health Card will facilitate with Rs50,000 for the treatment of common illnesses such as flue, cough and hepatitis,’ and will offer Rs300,000 for more lethal maladies and conditions like ‘angioplasty, bypass and dialysis.’
“If this limit finishes while they are at the hospital, the patients will not be forced to leave the hospital, said the minister, adding: “We signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the treasury for them, and their limit will be extended to Rs600,000.”
Tarar further added that daily wagers, who earn less than Rs200 per day, would be eligible for the scheme and that the treatment will be given equally to every one without any discrimination ‘whatever a person’s religion, sect or province is’.
“The federal and provincial governments will work together on this program,” said Tarar.
She also said that the federal government is disbursing Rs9 billion for treatment, which will be feasible under any public and private hospitals.
On the occasion of this launch, Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was briefed about the project. The launch ceremony was also attended by Maryam Nawaz, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan.
The features of the program in a nutshell:
- Poverty-stricken will get free treatment at both public and private hospitals
- Rs50,000 will be provided for the treatment of common disease
- Rs300,000 will be given for treatment solemn medical conditions
- Limit would be doubled to Rs600,000 in case funds run out while treatment undergoes at hospital.
