The recent political development in Pakistan raised eyebrows about the continuation of Sehat Card programme in the country. However, the Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) has brushed aside all the rumors pertaining to the initiative getting closed. In a statement, the ministry confirmed that Sehat Card program will not be halted. It will continue to provide free of cost medical services and treatment despite change in political leadership.
While negating all the speculations, the ministry said in a statement:
“Under the Sehat Sahulat Programme, families are able to get free treatment from empaneled public and private hospitals all across Pakistan. All hospitals empaneled with Sehat Sahulat Programme continue to provide free of cost hospitalisation services to all citizens. There were around 9,000 hospital admissions on Friday and 8,000 on Saturday (April 9) across Pakistan under the programme”
According to the aforementioned official statement, as many as 17,000 patients were admitted for free medical treatment in last two days. Therefore, all social media rumors which have been lately circulating are fabricated and baseless.
Not too long ago, former cricketer of Pakistan, Yasir Hameed tweeted:
“One of our cousin did his liver transplant on #sehatcard hats off to @ImranKhanPTI. Saved his life savings 80 lac rupees”
The aforesaid tweet indicates that the cost of liver transplant was as much as 8 million rupees. On the contrary, a patient is entitled to a treatment of 1 million rupees in a year. Nonetheless, Yasir Hameed clarified a question within the tweet by answering:
“Liver transplant they deal differently support the patient”
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About Sehat Card
Initiated by the government of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), Sehat Card is aimed at providing free medical services/treatment everyone in the country. It includes open heart surgeries, insertion of stents, management of cancer, neurosurgical procedures, burn management, accident management, dialysis, intensive care management, deliveries, C-section and other medical/surgical procedures. Under this programme, a family is entitled to 1 million rupee treatment in a year. A little over 600 hospitals – both private and government – are enrolled in the programme across the country.
It is noteworthy to mention that 100% residents of Punjab, KPK, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Islamabad are entitled to get free medical treatment. The facility is also available for the people of Sindh, Balochistan and Fata. It is only a matter of time before everyone in Pakistan would be able to attain free medical services under Sehat Card initiative.
To be eligible for the programme, SMS your CNIC number to 8500.
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