Punjab minister launches health cards initiative in Multan

MULTAN: Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid Thursday launched the Health Insaf Cards (HIC) here at Multan Arts Council on Thursday.

On the occasion, the minister said more than 1,200 people in Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh and other districts were taking the benefits of HIC. The minister said the Punjab government had incorporated Multan Nishtar Phase-II project in the forthcoming budget. She said the IHCs were a gift to deserving people from the government and launching of IHCs from Multan had fulfilled the commitments of PM Imran Khan.

She said the PML-N-led government had left the national exchequer empty for giving tough time to the PTI government in Punjab but the PTI government honored Rs 100 billion cheques despite facing financial constraints. The PTI government was making efforts bringing people living below the poverty line. The Punjab government was distributing Rs 180, 000 to poor in Punjab.

She said 800,000 IHC have distributed in the province. She said IHCs were accommodating poor, labor and deserving classes. Rs 720, 000 balance is available for each family for treatment and the Punjab government would bear whole expenses.

Free medical facility is entitled to each poor citizen in the IHC while Rs 1,000 would be paid to each patient as travelling expenses. The government would bear burial expenses of poor and deserving people. She said the IHCs are entitled for cardiac and brain surgery. She said the deserving people in Multan could take the benefits of the IHC and avail free medical facilities of all diseases.

Later, Punjab Health Minister Prof Dr Yasmin Rashid, Punjab Energy Minister Dr Akhtar Malik and Commissioner Imran Sikandar Baloch distributed IHCs among deserving and registered people.

Meanwhile, addressing a reception hosted by Pakistan Medical Association Nishtar Medical University, the minister promised resolution of doctors problems presented by PMAS including up gradation of health facilities. Earlier, PMA president Prof Dr Masudur Rauf Haraj demanded the minister recruitment against vacant posts at NMU.

He demanded the minister, increase in seats of specialist consultants at tehsil and DHQ hospitals round the clock. He demanded the minister, 100pc availability of medicines in all wards of Nishtar Hospital.

Prof Dr Masudur Rauf Haraj demanded the minister immediate functioning of Multan DHQ and trainings of post graduate doctors and appointment of MCPS doctors at all sections of DHQ. He demanded permanent appointment of medical superintendent and principal at Institute of Dentistry and its affiliation with NMU. The Multan Institute of Cardiology Chief Executive Prof Dr Rana Altaf, NMU Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Kamal Pasha, Dr Abbas Naqvi, Dr Rana Khawar, Prof Dr Qaisar Mehmood and others also spoke on the occasion.