The Prime Minister National Health Programme was launched for 134,000 families in Narowal. The scheme first launched in Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, catering to at least 3.5 million people in the city. Today, it was launched in Narowal and the programme is expected to launch in 36 more districts in the province.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif announced in the event that some 160,000 families in Narowal will be receiving the health card under the scheme in the first phase.
"People do not have enough money to buy medicine. They don't even have enough money to travel to the hospital. I would wonder how they are managing," he said, adding that this is the real job of political workers which is to serve the people of Pakistan.
Read more: Health cards will not end Pakistan's healthcare nightmare
"Government will support the medical bills (per card per family) that amount to more than Rs250,000. If it exceeds that limit, the treasury will chip in," the PM added.
Treatment of cardiovascular diseases such as a bypass surgery or an angioplasty as well as other difficult and expensive treatments are included in the scheme, he said.
Minister of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar said that this is a pro-women programme.
"Health is a devolved subject and it is in the care of the provinces. But no prime minister has done more for health than what Prime Minister Nawaz has done," she added.
"People are saying we are just electioneering. But please do not put [unncessary] obstacles in our programme because remember, you have to contest in elections too," Tarar said.
Minister of Planning and Development of Pakistan Ahsan Iqbal, while addressing the audience, said back in 2013, Pakistan's economy was struggling.
"Five years later, under the PMLN government, a prestigious news outlet like The Economist ranked Pakistan as one of the top-five fastest-growing economies in the world," Iqbal added.
"This scheme is benefiting the poorest of poor people. A labourer, a widow ─ who would look at the privileged getting a VIP treatment at the hospitals, will now have the same access thanks to this programme," he said.
The programme will benefit people from low-income families, those who earn as low as Rs200 per day. The scheme was launched in 15 districts of Islamabad in its first phase and was to be expanded to 23 districts in the second phase. Around 1.2 million families were to get free healthcare facilities in the first phase.
Salient features of the PM's National Health Programme
Treatment for underprivileged at both public and private hospitals without delay
Rs50,000 on PM's cards for treatment of common illnesses
Rs300,000 set aside for treatment of serious medical conditions
Limit can be extended to Rs600,000 if funds run out during treatment at hospital
Toll-free number set up for registering patients' complaints
