ISLAMABAD: The government has shortlisted four insurance companies for the second phase of Prime Minister’s National Health Programme (PMNHP).

Moreover, the amount of package for each deserving family has been increased by 20pc. For the first time, neurosurgical process is also being included in the package starting from the next calendar year.

On Dec 31, 2015, the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif launched the programme for Islamabad and described it as the first step towards making Pakistan a welfare state. So far the programme has been introduced in 36 districts across the country and 3.1 million families have been enrolled.

Under the programme, a family gets Rs50,000 for secondary care treatment which begins as soon as the patient is hospitalised. It covers most of the diseases, including maternity. Each family can get treatment of up to Rs250,000 under the category of priority diseases which include cancer, accident, burn injuries, diabetic complications, heart bypass and infections. In case of an emergency, a family can get treatment of Rs300,000 per year and that amount can be doubled with the support of Pakistan Baitul Maal. Families which earn less than $2 per day are entitled for registration with the programme.

In second phase starting from next year, the programme will cover all 138 districts of country, says official

PMNHP Director Dr Faisal Rifaq told Dawn that the first phase of the programme was insured by State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan for three years.

“As the programme will conclude at the end of the current year, a process has been started for hiring an insurance company. Last time nine companies had applied out of which three were shortlisted and finally State Life won the contract by giving the lowest bid. The programme was introduced in 41 districts across the country in the first phase,” he said.

“A few months ago, the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec) approved the second phase which will be for five years and during which the programme will be implemented across the country which is divided into 138 districts.”

Dr Rifaq said five insurance companies had applied for the second phase of the programme but four of them were shortlisted.

“Companies which have been shortlisted include State Life, Jubilee Life Insurance, Adamjee Insurance Company and Alfalah Insurance Consortium. We have directed them to deposit their request for proposal and the financial and technical bid. The company which will win the contract will be responsible for the next five years programme,” he said.

In reply to a question, Dr Rifaq said the cost of the package for the second phase will be increased by 20pc from Rs300,000 to Rs360,000 and people will also be able to get treatment for brain hemorrhages and other neurosurgical processes. They will also be able to operate the discs of backbone,” he said.

He said during the current month, the programme will be extended to four more districts: Multan, Muzaffargarh, Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur.

“Over 250,000 families have been registered from all the four districts and tens of thousands more will be registered,” he said.

He said currently 175 hospitals, including 10pc in the private sector, were registered to provide treatment to the patients and the customer satisfaction rate was 93.82pc.

Ministry of National Health Services spokesperson Sajid Shah said because of the programme not only a large number of deserving people were getting treatment but the inclusion of private hospitals in the programme had also reduced burden on government hospitals.

“PMNHP has also been appreciated at the international health forums as it provided free of cost treatment to those who cannot afford to get medical treatment,” he said.

Published in Dawn, June 19th, 2018