National Health Insurance Scheme to cover 100 million Pakistanis

E-Paper | May 01, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Thursday approved the National Health Insurance Scheme aimed at providing health care to some 100 million people in Pakistan.

The prime minister chaired a meeting to give in principle approval to launch the Health Insurance Program. The meeting was attended by Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Chairperson PM’s Youth Program Maryam Nawaz, Minister of State for Health Saira Afzal Tarrar, and senior officers of the health and finance ministries.

Maryam Nawaz, the architect of the scheme, gave a detailed briefing to the Prime Minister in which comparative study of major health blanket models of the European Union, United States and India and options for implementing the scheme in Pakistan were discussed.

“A health insurance programme is the only way forward to provide health care protection to economically deprived people of the society. The scheme is the first of its kind to introduce a grievance redressal system as well as social security safety net for the poor people of Pakistan," he said.

PM Sharif said the programme will not only give the vulnerable sections of the society an access to cash free health facilities but will also help to develop and revolutionise the health infrastructure across Pakistan.

The prime minister further said the scheme will also increase public-private partnership in Pakistan and will open up further avenues for investment.”

The scheme would be completely apolitical and would provide a blanket for cash free treatment to the poor people of Pakistan for major diseases like cardiovascular diseases, diabetes mellitus and complications, burns and RTA (life and limb saving treatment, implants, prosthesis), end stage renal diseases and dialysis, chronic infections (hepatitis), organ failure (hepatic, renal, cardiopulmonary) and cancer treatment.

The meeting also decided to establish the first ever public sector human organ transplant center in Islamabad.

The prime minister directed the Ministries of Finance and Health to coordinate and finalise the technical modalities and implementation strategy in minimum possible time so that an early relief could be given to the people.

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Ali

Jun 05, 2014 10:18pm

That is one sensible thing to do. It's amazing that our politicians can come up with such a wonderful idea about healthcare. However, we'll need to see how and whether such plan will be implemented in reality. I hope it does not end up as yet another money making tool for the government functionaries.

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Ahmad Sajwani

Jun 05, 2014 10:23pm

Its a good step. I hope corruption doesn't eat up poor person's health care. I also hope there is enough private sector participation that a poor person does not have to stand in line for hours at a government hospital ...hopefully it wouldn't end up like the government education system, where teachers don't show up to classes. Imagine doctors not showing up for critical surgeries.

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uet

Jun 05, 2014 10:24pm

If it really goes through, it will be one of the biggest social service done by anyone in pakistan ever

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Karachi Guy

Jun 05, 2014 10:42pm

A good step. But I would wait for the reviews before I pay my salute to the PM. Our rulers can hardly be relied upon. I don't know if the masses will actually be saved or that they would further be made slaves of the system by this.

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Jun 05, 2014 11:14pm

@Jack It won't

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farooq choudrey

Jun 05, 2014 11:15pm

I don't think PM Nawaz knows what health insurance is? does he know 50%drugs are sold to hospitals are fake and also drug companies are owned by his people who are in his government.it is a scam.

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Parvez

Jun 05, 2014 11:17pm

first take a look at the way national hospitals function........then you will get an idea as to how this scheme will function. Bottom line : some chosen bureaucrats are going to become richer than what they already are.

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Faisal

Jun 05, 2014 11:19pm

SharifCare?

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M Dawood

Jun 05, 2014 11:19pm

positive news........every western society with such models collectively contributes via taxes, medicare, social/employment insurance, pension deductions, other taxes and so, thus enabling the government to offer basic health services. nothing in today's world is free. successful execution of such a project would be interesting to monitor.

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Jun 05, 2014 11:22pm

@Ahmad Sajwani Corruption will eat it up. Even in the West corruption and bad governance means these types of schemes are causing the state to run out of money. At this time the best way to help the poor is to create an environment where private entities can prosper and create jobs for the masses. The masses will then have money to pay for their own health. Government run schemes generally fail. They make people dependent on others. Best way to deal with poverty is to create wealth.

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Ayesha

Jun 05, 2014 11:23pm

Take it easy Mr Nawaz Sharif, you are not a civilized president, and if you had any sense of management, then the first thing on your agenda should have been to create job opportunities and the priority to rebuild the infrastructure of your country, which is presently ruled half by the Talibans, and the rest of the halfs are crazy hypocrite Mullahs. Don't try to fool the public, at least there are but a few with brains also. Moreover, the whole nation has also seen your previous performance, and this one whole year of your third government. The results are minus zero.

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DMDiL

Jun 05, 2014 11:31pm

in What kind of Government Quality Hospitals?

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Mateen

Jun 05, 2014 11:42pm

If the poorest people of Pakistan can really come to experience a universal healthcare system then it'll be a hats off for this gov. The idea is excellent, but with all the corruption and bereaucracy in our society, it'll require alot of sincerity upon the whole political system to make it work without making people disappointed.

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Spartan

Jun 05, 2014 11:43pm

Now who is going to pay for bills under this scheme? Tax payers? You got to be kidding me and I feel sorry for the hard earning middle class-tax paying citizens of Pakistan. The country where unemployment rate is above 10% (according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics) and where more than 55% of population earns $2/day (according to ILO), it is hard to understand who is going to sponsor this healthcare? The national healthcare can only work if you have a healthy healthcare system. Such as local clinics, preventable diseases awareness, small emergency centers providing basic cares at affordable prices. These provide a basis to have an potent healthcare insurance scheme to run economically and rationally longer. In a country where polio eradication is still a challenge and where healthcare workers are killed by maniacs - this bill or scheme is going to be a big challenge.

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independentthinker

Jun 06, 2014 12:00am

Where will the money come from - to pay for all this? We are increasing our military budget, education, giving increases to public sector employees and now the health care - did we win a jackpot?

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Jun 06, 2014 12:10am

Yeah right! Give me a break. Where is the money to fund it? Government can't even pay the existing bills. Keep building castles in the air!

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Mujtaba

Jun 06, 2014 12:11am

Really good step our new PM is the best

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Harmony

Jun 06, 2014 12:20am

Another opportunity for some to rake money out of this

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MSAlvi

Jun 06, 2014 12:24am

I am surprised. Does this PM know, what he is doing! There are no health care facilities in the country worth the name. If there are no health care facilities, what will the insurance do. Due to lack of facilities, everybody, including the president, PM and all others, go to England for treatment. You need to create health care facilities first. Mr. PM, there are other urgent issues, including law and order, education, jobs, and energy, which must be taken care of first. How long the nation is going to put up with this kind of foolish PM?

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Makael

Jun 06, 2014 12:25am

A good step, however, the devil is in the details. Frankly, this looks like a money grab scheme to me. studying the Cuban model should have been at the top of the list of countries, which has worked efficiently for a country with limited resources. Studying the healthcare systems of US and EU is good but it will not be a good comparison to Pakistan because our limited resources and not to mention corruption. Also Public Private Partnership (P3's) means that the hospitals will become money making ventures. The public will either pay directly to P3's or the government uses taxes to pay these corporations. The bottom line is that a few big corporations will benefit the rest of the population will suffer under high taxes and lack of better services. I am highly skeptical of this scheme helping the poor. However, I do hope and pray that it is successful for the sake of Pakistan.

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Faisal

Jun 06, 2014 12:37am

Who funds it?

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bkt

Jun 06, 2014 12:58am

A vision for the country - at last! Nawaz Sharif is taking the initiative, thankfully

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AJamal

Jun 06, 2014 01:08am

Where is the budgetary allocation for this scheme. Providing insurance cover to 100 million will require an yearly premium of at least Rs 100 billion. The entire expenditure of federal and provincial governments is nowhere this amount. Also what will happen to existing government health infrastructure? VERY IMPORTANTLY, HEALTH IS A PROVINCIAL SUBJECT AFTER 18TH AMENDMENT.

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AJamal

Jun 06, 2014 01:11am

Remember NHS in the UK and Healthcare in the US are white elephants. Don't get excited by what Mariam says. Her husband even doesn't have an NTN.

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Saad

Jun 06, 2014 01:24am

Where will the money come from? Social security/health insurance plans are something even rich/developed countries can barely afford. Not just the money, these people have the human resource and governance systems to do this effectively. In a country like Pakistan, where the tax-to-GDP ratio is one of the lowest in the world, I have no idea how this program can be implemented. Or perhaps the government is planning to borrow and run a deficit in order to finance the scheme. If that is the case, it is a poor decision since it will increase the debt burden on future generations (and have other consequences that come with budget deficits - inflation, falling currency, high interest rates, low investment etc.). Maybe they're planning on getting it out there without a proper plan (and with borrowed money) so that they can cash in on it for the next general elections. Hope to God I'm wrong, and the govt succeeds in providing health care to the poor effectively (and without borrowed money).

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kirther

Jun 06, 2014 02:16am

Good initiative but must be implemented honestly and sincerely throughout the country with same terms and conditions in all four provinces

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Bea

Jun 06, 2014 03:31am

who will pay for this when a large majority of people in Pakistan do not even pay tax? i think he just made that up to impress the general public in reality nothing is going to happen.

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Amir Mahmood

Jun 06, 2014 03:33am

All plans are good on paper however the success of plans lies with people who implement them.

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Dipak

Jun 06, 2014 03:53am

Congratulations and Best Wishes. Education and Healthcare means progress, peace and prosperity

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Muhammad

Jun 06, 2014 04:00am

Please have a look at the federal budget 2014, the amount allocated to health this year in budget is 8000 millions, this is less than the budget of Aga Khan Hospital Karachi. By the way UK national budget is around 450 Billion Pounds and the amount they spend on (national Health Scheme) NHS is over 130 billions every year.

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Shiraz

Jun 06, 2014 04:14am

Who will pay for it?

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Fazal Karim

Jun 06, 2014 05:14am

Not at all clear. Will 100 million people be asked to insure and pay yearly premium.If so how much. Mariam Nawaz please provide details.

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Fazal Karim

Jun 06, 2014 05:18am

The day such scheme starts functioning(properly) Pakistan will jump from third world to advance world.

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Sohail Aslam

Jun 06, 2014 05:26am

Now, please explain how to emigrate to Pakistan. We want to enroll in the National Health Insurance Scheme.

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K khan

Jun 06, 2014 05:43am

Who will implement the billing codes , who will do audits ? Do they expect PMDC to come up with billing and coding solution on the dime ? What about medical record keeping ? Would only hospitals will be participating , if so the ER and the outpatient ( OPD) will be over run by the masses , who will implement the EMR. It's a pie in the sky ... It will never happen on a mass scale , if at all ....

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Adeel Ijaz

Jun 06, 2014 06:11am

let me know when it gets implemented and when the poor benefits from it

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Absar

Jun 06, 2014 06:26am

Government should rather focus on the preventive measures than introducing something that may sound a good service to the people but instead is a waste of capital. A hint: most of the widespread diseases and infant mortality are acaused by inadequate and contaminated water. Cope with it and only then will such investment on healthcare be called a "good management/planning". Pakistan terribly lacks in good planning. Most of our projects, even those carried out out of honest intentions, do not succeed because of poor plannings.

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Nadeem Chaudhry

Jun 06, 2014 06:40am

"Maryam Nawaz the architect of the scheme"??!! What about the qualified physicians, health experts and people with knowledge of health care? The Journal of Pakistan Medical Association in 2007 had published a retrospective study by, 3 highly qualified physicians indicating that Rs.250 B was required which meant allocating 50% of the national budget to the cause. Good going!

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s khan

Jun 06, 2014 07:21am

Gov has finally started paying attention to problems faced by poor for long time

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A S Rao

Jun 06, 2014 07:45am

Good scheme. Any major health problem ruins finances of the entire family. Health insurance helps in avoiding bankruptcy. Since scheme is designed by young and committed lady, Maryam Nawaj, important to involve young volunteers to monitor scheme and plug loopholes like substandard medicines corruption etc.

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AJamal

Jun 06, 2014 07:49am

Please provide clean drinking water to the masses. That would do a lot to improve national health.

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Zia

Jun 06, 2014 09:22am

I hope and pray for this usefull scheme for Pakistan and please don't be so negtive about every thing my dear brothers. Don't think you all are is from same society of Pakistan look around you in ur family friends and other people how many of them doing good and how many of them are looting Pakistan then point finger towords other

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GUL

Jun 06, 2014 09:46am

@independentthinker Have patients dear, we do spent 700 billion on our unproductive extravagant security apparatus, why not spend meager 10-15 billion on one of the basic right of our masses!

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onlylive once

Jun 06, 2014 09:48am

bad idea.......its dumb like obamacare

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Saleem

Jun 06, 2014 09:57am

After 18th amendment, the federal government initiate such health related schemes. Sooner or later, it will be struck down by the constitutional bench of the supreme court.

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Sheraz Ahmed Khan

Jun 06, 2014 10:19am

Who will pay the premium?

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Ahmed

Jun 06, 2014 10:46am

Although present health services provided by the govt are really poor but still this program look good for people qho don't have anywhere to go incase of illness. Good step NS! Keep it up!

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khanm

Jun 06, 2014 12:59pm

i ma going to send 100 million Pakistanis to Mars and to the moon. But folks i don't have the space ship...I was taught that the human brain was the crowning glory of evolution so far, but I think it's a very poor scheme for survival.

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independentthinker

Jun 11, 2014 02:01am

@GUL I am sure you meant "patience" and not "patient"! Don't you know these are empty promises and nothing will come out of it! We are talking about people who would fill their pockets and go abroad for their personal health issues. As far as our millions of Pakistan, they will have to survive on empty promises!

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