Sehat Sahulat Card distribution to start from 22nd: minister

LAHORE: Minister for Health Dr Yasmeen Rashid has said the issuance of ‘Sehat Sahulat Cards’ will start from February 22. She said three crore people of 27 lakh families will benefit from Sehat Sahulat Cards having individual worth of 7 lakh 20 thousand rupees.

In the first phase, Sehat Sahulat Cards will be distributed among 50 percent population of Punjab. She said that ‘we don’t believe in lip-service like the previous government’. She said complete check and balance will be maintained of the record of “Sehat Sahulat Cards” programme.

These views were expressed by her while addressing a press conference at DGPR on Monday. Special Secretary Shakil Ahmad, DGPR Amjad Hussain and other officers were also present on this occasion.

The minister said that the basic purpose of “Sehat Sahulat Card” is to accommodate such segments of the society who cannot access the health facilities because of lack of resources. She said that through “Sehat Sahulat Card” free-of-cost treatment facility worth Rs 720,000 would be attained from any hospital. People of far-flung areas could be benefited of this facility at Lahore. She said that by the end of March 2019, eight lakh “Sehat Sahulat Cards” will be distributed in four districts. She said that facility of one thousand rupees has been given to the patients in Sehat Sahulat Card for coming to hospital. She said that patients can avail treatment facilities of head injury, neuro sciences, cardio vascular, sugar dialysis, hepatitis, liver, HIV, angioplasty, brain surgery and cancer through “Sehat Sahulat Card”.

She said that steps are being taken on priority basis for ensuring the health of mother and child. She said that majority of ‘our society is middle class who faces difficulties for the treatment in case of any disease’. She said that Sehat Sahulat cards will be issued for the period of three years which can be renewed as well. By the end of December “Sehat Sahulat Card” will be distributed throughout the Punjab province. Approximately, with 72 lakh “Sehat Sahulat Card” treatment facilities would be provided to 3.5 crore people of Punjab.

During the last tenure, cards were distributed on political basis due to which treatment can only be possible in Sharif Medical Complex and Ittefaq Hospital. She said that remaining expenditures of 2.5 billion rupees in the distribution of Sehat Cards of last tenure has to be borne out by the present government. She said that budget of Rs 7 billion has been allocated in the head of “Sehat Sahulat Card”. The minister maintained that Commissioners and Deputy Commissioners have been informed about the eligibility for the Sehat Sahulat Card. She said that facility of Sehat Sahulat Card is being given to the people with the help of tax money of people of Punjab. She said that criteria of deserving candidates for Sehat Sahulat Card in every district will be determined with the help of national economic survey.

A gift of Sehat Sahulat Card has been given to the people of Pakistan along with Punjab according to the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan. She said ‘we don’t believe in making tall claims but honesty and providing 100 percent relief to the people. Provision of best healthcare facilities to the patients in hospitals is our top priority and we are struggling round the clock to ensure this’.

Meanwhile, Dr Yasmeen Rashid has directed for completing ongoing development projects in hospitals of the province within stipulated timeframe. These instructions were issued by the minister in a high-level meeting of primary and secondary health.

Special Secretary Primary & Secondary Health Mudasar Ahmad and other officers concerned were present in the meeting. The minister reviewed pace, standard and budget released for ongoing development projects in hospitals of the province during the meeting.

Special Secretary Mudasar Ahmad briefed the minister about the overall situation of ongoing development projects. The minister said that completion of ongoing development projects in a stipulated timeframe is utmost necessary for providing better healthcare facilities to the patients. The meeting also reviewed the matters regarding facilities of medicines to the patients of hepatitis, TB, HIV and other vertical programmes.