In the midst of a growing public outcry and mounting concerns voiced by thePakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, regarding perceived alterations tothe previous Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government’s flagship healthinsurance initiative, Sehat Card Plus, Health Secretary Mahmood Aslam Wazirhas sought to clarify the government’s unwavering commitment to deliveringhealthcare services to all residents of the province without any form ofdiscrimination.
Preceding this clarification, Health Advisor Dr. Riaz Anwar had made anannouncement that the program had been linked to both the Benazir IncomeSupport Program (BISP) and the NADRA database. Additionally, it wasrevealed that free medical treatment would only be extended to individualswith a monthly income of Rs37,000 or less.
This revelation triggered widespread criticism, particularly against thebackdrop of escalating inflation, surging petroleum prices, and risingelectricity bills, all of which were already placing a heavy financialburden on the middle and lower-income strata of society.
The caretaker provincial government had been grappling with the escalatingcosts associated with the Sehat Card program. This financial strain hadreached a point where the insurance company had halted medical treatmentson five separate occasions in recent months due to unpaid dues.
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Secretary Mahmood Aslam Wazir underscored that these recent efforts werepart of a comprehensive strategy aimed at improving healthcareaccessibility and transparency within the region. Under the Sehat Card Plusinitiative, healthcare services remain open to all, ensuring that noindividual is excluded on the basis of their economic status. The programwas designed with the goal of providing high-quality healthcare services toevery resident of K-P.
Secretary Wazir further elaborated on the key highlights of the Sehat CardPlus program, with a strong emphasis on transparency and sustainability.This reiteration of the government’s dedication to equitable healthcareaccess serves as a testament to their commitment to prioritizing thewell-being of all individuals residing within Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
