PM launches National Health Programme

Society Pakistan & World Affairs
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Finally solid step towards social sector spending like Health Care System in Pakistan

PM launches National Health Programme

By News Desk
Published: December 31, 2015

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CU7BYdYWIAQi6Mq.jpg

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday launched the Prime Minister’s National Health Programme in Islamabad to ensure medical treatment for families living in districts below the poverty line.

Minister of State for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar briefed PM Nawaz on the services and benefits of the programme, which will provide cheap medical care to poor people against seven life-threatening diseases.
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The scheme offers free of cost treatment for ailments such as cardiovascular diseases, Diabetes Mellitus, Burma and RTA (life and limb saving treatment, implants, prosthesis). It will also cover end-stage renal diseases and dialysis, chronic infections (Hepatitis), organ failure (Hepatic, Renal, Cardiopulmonary) and cancer treatment (Chemo, Radio and Surgery).

Initially the programme is being started in fifteen districts of the country. Under the programme health care cards will be issued to the beneficiaries on which they will get free medical treatment of seven diseases.

The prime minister was informed that around 63,000 people will be issued health cards through 300 centres in Islamabad and Lahore which have initially been established for the distribution of health cards.

Further, every card holder will be able to avail health facilities worth Rs0.3 million per year; however, in case of exceeding the card limit the patient will be provide financial assistance by Baitul Mal.

The PM approved this programme in June last year. A provision of Rs1 billion was included in the budget for launching the scheme on a pilot basis which will then be replicated in a large number of districts.
State Life wins contract for PM’s National Health Programme

In the first phase the programme will provide free of cost access to hospital/indoor care to 3.1 million families. This will be spread across to families in 23 districts of Pakistan living below the poverty line both for 7 priority and secondary diseases. The districts included in this programme are Narowal, Khanewal, Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, Sheikhupura, Badin, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Mardan, Malakand, Kohat and Chitral. In addition Quetta, Loralai, Lesbela, Kech, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Diamer, Skardu, Bajaur Agency, Khyber Agency and ICT are also included.

Federal Ministers Ishaq Dar, Khurram Dastagir, Minister of State for Interior Baleeghur Rehman, Minister for CADD Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and Maryam Nawaz Sharif were also present.

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Re: PM launches National Health Programme

Underprivileged to get free treatment at private hospitals with govt health cards

DAWN.COM — UPDATED 2 MINUTES AGO

ISLAMABAD: State Minister for Health Saira Afzal Tarar at the launch of the National Health Programme here on Thursday announced the issuance of health cards which will enable the underprivileged to receive treatment at private and public hospitals free of charge.

Tarar said the prime minister’s card allows Rs50,000 for the treatment of common illnesses “such as the flu, cough and hepatitis”, and sets aside Rs300,000 for more serious conditions like “angioplasty, bypass and dialysis”.

[HR][/HR]Salient features of the 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

[HR][/HR]*
Read editorial: National health insurance*

“If this limit finishes while they are at the hospital, the patients will not be forced to leave the hospital,” she said. “We signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the treasury for them, and their limit will be extended to Rs600,000.”

“Those who earn daily wages of less than Rs200 qualify for the programme,” she said, adding that treatment will be provided without discrimination “whatever your religion, sect or province”.
A toll-free number has been set up for people with complaints regarding treatment, she said.

[HR][/HR]Details provided by the ministry of health and PM’s Office:

  • Patients will receive free medication for seven chronic illnesses including heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, hepatitis and liver disease
  • People injured in accidents to be given free medical aid
  • Programme initiated in 15 districts across the country
  • 1.2 million families to be provided health insurance cards

[HR][/HR]

However, earlier in December, National Health Services Director General Dr Asad Hafeez told Dawn: “In the first phase starting on Jan 1, as many as 3m people in 23 districts of Punjab, Balochistan, Fata and AJK will be included along with Islamabad. It will start from Islamabad, followed by Muzaffarabad a week later and then Quetta, Rahimyar Khan and other cities.”

Hafeez had said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh have not shown interest in the insurance programme, but the government has allocated funds for them and they can join anytime.

Addressing the ceremony, the health minister said, “The federal and provincial governments will work together on this programme. The federal government is providing Rs9 billion for treatment,” she said, adding that treatment will be possible at both public and private hospitals.

“Those living below the poverty line will be provided health insurance and can receive treatment for any fatal disease,” Prime Minister Nawaz said while addressing attendees at the launch of the programme.

“No one will have to sell their personal belongings in order to pay for treatment,” the PM said.
Only two provinces are part of the programme initially, he said, adding that the initiative would soon be expanded.
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Scheme for hospitals**

The health minister said quality checks were conducted on impaneled hospitals. A soft-launch scheme is in place for hospitals that wish to become part of the scheme but lack the necessary facilities.

Maryam Nawaz accompanies PM Nawaz at the launch of the NHP. ─ DawnNews

“For those that don’t have the latest equipment or an operation theatre, we are starting a PM’s scheme for low-interest loans at easy instalments so that they can improve the quality of their hospitals.”

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif while attending the launch was given a briefing of the project. Maryam Nawaz, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir Khan are also in attendance at the launch.

Earlier this month, the PM said the programme should be implemented in phases to filter out any deficiencies and an awareness campaign should be launched about the diseases to be covered under the initiative.

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Re: PM launches National Health Programme

This program is bound to fail very soon like sasti roti, laptop bs etc schemes. This is nothing but a cruel joke on Pakistani public. How could you promote this nonsense free on this bulletin board? Do you consider your ethics when you promote lies??

What your ganja needs is that spend moneys providing at least basic health care and build as many hospitals as he can in rural areas where people should not come to cities for health reasons. Drs. do not want to work in villages or less developed areas. Before they get degrees they should bound to work in villages otherwise forfeit their degrees. A law should be passed in NA and Senate regarding health care. Not this joke of 2015 hotch potch dishonest health insurance bs.

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Re: PM launches National Health Programme

316 Tharparkar children died in a year

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Re: PM launches National Health Programme

How Pakistan?s National Health Insurance Program Will Work - India Real Time - WSJ

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Re: PM launches National Health Programme

Maryam Nawaz Sharif@MaryamNSharif](https://twitter.com/MaryamNSharif)

A selfie on the way to PM Health Prog launch :slight_smile: FM Dar and PM Sharif discuss oil prices in the background

**Asia’s largest Children Hospital ‘1000 bed’ in Faislabad complete, ready for inauguration! punjab](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Punjab?src=hash)governance](https://twitter.com/hashtag/Governance?src=hash)

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Any reason why all this money couldnt be put into govt hospitals to properly equip them for the masses, rather tahn outsource patients to private hospitals? Private lobbies at work again?

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Re: PM launches National Health Programme

My post is universal also it applies to Sindh which is still part of Pakistan unless you think it is part of India. But your leader has again proved stupid by making another ‘shosha’. By the way how in the hell poor people will travel from Tharparkar to Karachi and afford to live there while their patients are under treatment at AKH hospital on N$'s insurance, my foot while they don’t have enough money or means to travel all the way??

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Re: PM launches National Health Programme

This is another white lie which these gangas are experts. Remember these dakoos took over foreign currency accounts of common people and let their chamcha's and arse kissers to take out their money before their highway robery, while trumpeting 'qarz utaro, mulk sanwaro'.

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Too much work.

This is same story as others, peeli taxi, roti, income support funds, loan for youth, laptops etc. Easy way to buy votes with public money.

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Re: PM launches National Health Programme

and the stupid qaum has no idea his daughter is next in line to the PM throne in this country, see how she is everywhere with him these days. Getting ready to takeover the kingdom from daddy

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Re: PM launches National Health Programme

Who pays for the services at the newly opened hospitals? People need insurance.

More important question is, who pays for this insurance? Where is the money coming from?

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Re: PM launches National Health Programme

Govt bureaucracy and corruption ensure that Govt hospitals remain wanting... Private Hospitals tend to be run more efficiently.

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So its a lack of political will.
Private hospitals run more efficiently, but its also well known that outsourcing govt stuff to private vendors generates a lot of commission and kickback opportunities for those cronies of govt who are not in power. We have been through this in the laptop scheme drama as well as many others.

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Re: PM launches National Health Programme

Well the Laptop scheme was an obvious white elephant. I doubt anyone saw any real value in it. Health insurance on the other hand has immense utility...

The risk of the their being kickbacks at some level is there regardless of how the dispense of the money. But at least they are doing something...