Civil society demands free health cover for special persons

Islamabad : Representatives of civil society demanded of the authorities concerned to announce a health insurance plan for persons with disabilities to ensure appropriate medical cover for them.

According to them, these special persons needed special care and look after, which was possible through giving appropriate and affordable medical assistance to them.

Rashida Jabeen, a representative of civil society said the government has already announced an ideal health insurance scheme for deserving people and asked to make such schemes for special persons.

She said that under this scheme full health coverage should be given to them so that they could live a normal life.

She added hospitals should be asked to give priority to them in medical treatment.

Another social activist, Laila Waheed said that there should be a survey on the required health facilities for special persons living throughout the country and then start working on sharing their burden by the departments concerned.

She said that there should be an effective legislation on the issue to address the sufferings of the special persons.

She added there was also shortage of trained medical staff at hospitals to ensure their treatment as per international standard.

Asif Kamal, a social activist said that the government should announce medical insurance for persons with disabilities while considering it their basic right to have free health care services.