The Sehat Card facilities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have resumed after months-long suspension due to financial constraints. On Tuesday, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department announced the resumption of medical facilities under the Sehat Card program.
As per the details, the scheme was suspended in May last year due to a lack of funds but now, after a year-long wait, patients can finally avail of medical treatment again.
Healthcare for all in KP!
Sehat Card was originally introduced in 2016 by the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and it proved to be one of the major reasons for their success in the February 8th general election in KP. The PTI party has resumed the scheme to help those who cannot bear the expenses of medical treatment.
KP Health Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah said that the government has spent Rs.10 million on 700 patients so far and around 1,800 ailments are being covered under the scheme. The program will cover certain kinds of operations provided by government hospitals to address overbilling. However, the number of hospitals on the Sehat Card panel has been reduced from 180 to 118.
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This move has been welcomed by patients who were anxiously waiting for the restoration of the program, especially those who require multiple surgeries. The government has committed to paying Rs.5 billion a month to the insurance company to ensure the program’s smooth functioning.
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