Caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan swiftly responding to the suspension of free treatment under the Sehat Card Scheme has directed for its immediate reinstatement.
The health department has been directed to take immediate action to reinstate this vital facility.
The chief minister’s instructions also encompass the prompt settlement of dues to the scheme’s implementing partner, the State Life Insurance Company.
Following these directives, the health department engaged with the insurance company’s management, assuring them of impending dues clearance within a week.
Consequently, the company promptly instructed all its empaneled hospitals to resume free treatment services under the Sehat Card Scheme.
This instruction was communicated in writing to the higher authorities of the Sehat Card scheme.
Earlier, State Life Insurance Corporation Pakistan had notified its panel hospitals of the suspension of all treatment facilities under the Sehat Card.
Hospitals were advised to continue offering only emergency and essential procedures, with Sehat Card Plus Health Desks remaining operational for these purposes.
Notably, prior permissions were mandated for admitting emergency cases.
Moreover, private hospitals were directed to refer patients to public hospitals.
Several months ago, the insurance company had halted treatments due to non-payment of dues.
Subsequently, the provincial government allocated an emergency fund of Rs2 billion to reinstate the services.
The Sehat Card scheme caters to around one million families, and it has provided free treatment to approximately 2.5 million patients so far.
