LAHORE: The Punjab government’s health insurance scheme will be extended to the remaining 19 districts of the province.

A decision to this effect was taken in principal by Punjab health minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid at a meeting of the specialized healthcare and medical education department here on Sunday.

Dr Rashid said that initially the scheme was launched in four districts of the province with the aim to provide health cover to people belonging to low-income groups. After its success, she said, the scheme was extended to another 13 districts, issuing directions that the summary regarding the extension of the scheme should be completed at the earliest to seek formal approved from the provincial cabinet.

She said Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar desired to transform Punjab into a `role model’ in health sector for other provinces and to achieve the targets all concerned would have to work with missionary zeal.

Earlier, the Punjab Health Insurance Management Company (PHIMC) chief executive officer briefed the meeting about the scheme.

ANITI-MEASLES DRIVE: The Punjab government will launch an anti-measles campaign from October 15.

During this campaign, one-year to 10-year old children would be administered vaccine against measles, said primary and secondary healthcare department Special Secretary Dr Ayesha Saeed on Sunday.

The drive would continue till October 27, said the special secretary, adding that minister Dr Yasmin Rashid had taken notice of the surge in the number of suspected measles cases in some areas and directed the department to take steps for eliminating the disease in the province.

Dr Ayesha said that the WHO, Unicef and Melinda Bill Gates Foundation were jointly sponsoring the anti-measles drive.

All CEOs of the district health authorities have been directed to constitute teams and submit reports regarding arrangement for the vaccination campaign in their jurisdiction, she said.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2018