PM Khan launches countrywide Sehat Insaf Card scheme
Prime Minister Imran Khan at a ceremony in Islamabad on Monday launched the first phase of the countrywide Sehat Insaf Card scheme to provide free medical treatment to approximately 80 million people.
The card, which falls under the PTI's Sehat Sahulat Programme, was part of a health insurance scheme first launched by the party in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2016.
"It was first issued to half of all households, then to 69 per cent of poor households in KP," the prime minister told attendees of the event. "It made a big difference."
Under the scheme, over 80 million people ─ or 10.5 million households below the poverty line ─ will receive free medical treatment worth Rs720,000 in private or state-owned hospitals. Around 15m people will receive the cards over the next two years.
Over 150 hospitals will provide free treatment ─ including procedures such as angioplasty, brain surgery, and cancer ─ under this facility. The Sehat Insaf Card will cover treatment of all ailments except transplants, Radio Pakistan reported.
"The cards will be distributed in Islamabad, then our tribal areas and then all over the country," Khan said.
According to Minister for Health Aamir Kiani, the scheme will be launched in Punjab, Gilgit Baltistan, Islamabad, erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas and Islamabad. Each family in the tribal districts will be provided the cards, whereas 85,000 families in Islamabad will be given cards. Each card holder will also be provided cost of transport up to Rs1,000 for each hospital visit.
The prime minister noted that under privileged or working class individuals often have difficulty subsisting on their salaries and meeting their household expenses. "When there's an illness, their entire budget is upset," he explained. "Research has shown that many households struggle financially due to illness" since they are already surviving at subsistence level.
He told attendees of the ceremony that when a member of a under-privileged household falls ill, his family "would sell everything" in order to be able to afford treatment.
"It's very important that we protect our poor with health cards so that if someone in their homes falls ill, they know that they can just take the Health Card to a hospital and receive treatment," Prime Minister Khan said.
A National Steering Committee comprising representatives from the federal, provincial and regional Health Departments will also be formed to review performance under the Sehat Sahulat Programme.
Khan conceded that citizens have been facing difficulties due to rupee devaluation and the ensuing rise in prices. "We are aware that people are going through hard times. The rates of gas and electricity have risen. We are aware. We are trying our best to ease circumstances as much as possible for those most affected."
The premier said he would announce a comprehensive poverty alleviation programme in the coming days.
A coordinate programme of this nature will be introduced for the first time in Pakistan's history, he said, adding that it would bring together a host of different institutions under one umbrella.
Additionally, he said, the government would provide cheap loans to needy people so they can build homes.
As part of its poverty alleviation drive across Pakistan’s poorest districts, the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf in its manifesto had stated that it would "upscale the Sehat Insaf Card Programme across Pakistan to provide access to quality healthcare to citizens."
Addressing a press conference soon after the launch ceremony Federal Minister for Health Aamir Mehmood Kiani said that the cards have been launched after the initiative met with success in Khyber Pakhtunkhawa.
He further said that in case of an accidental death, Rs10,000 will be given to the card holder's family to cover the costs of the funeral.
Kiani said that the Sehat Insaf Card system is very comprehensive and is being monitored in real time by NADRA.
He also said that no government in the history of Pakistan has made such an investment on underprivileged members of the society.
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Comments (156) Closed
Hope this will be equally successful in Punjab also.
Awesome initiative!
Very good initiative if implemented honestly and efficiently.
This is not a new scheme and it has existed since PMLN times and has been re-packaged only. Difference is that only picture of NS and SS have been removed. Google it and look for images of its previous inaugurations, if in doubt!
Real issues is the quality of health service that is available in the hospitals on the insurance panel for this scheme. Our general and private hospitals have very poor quality of actual health provisions that are needed to provide care especially those on its panel. It will give rise to further exploitation in the name of the poor by doing unnecessary treatments and over-inflated insurance claims unless proper checks and balances are instituted with a clear understanding of corruption that is rife in every part of Pakistani culture.
Why do you add "Insaf" in this scheme? Just Seht Card is enough. Do You want to promote your party with gov expenses like others?
This program, as intiated by the previous government, is already in place in most of Punjab
Well done sir/prime minister of Pakistan. Salute to you.
If this project materializes and our poor will really get access to free medical services, as this article suggests, then my view point will change towards the PTI, for sure.
Instead of providing these sehat cards, and encouraging an american model of healthcare, the govt should improve public hospitals infrastcture, quality and standards. Establish a large world class hospital in every divisional headquarter, which should be equipped with every modern facility for almost every disease. Also, ensure timely access to such a hospital by building a net of modern ambulance services accross the country. By issuing these health card, you are actually putting off your shoulders the responsibility of fixing govt hospitals and thus providing free and accessible healthcare to citizens.
Best
PMIK did not make any budget allocation for this.
Congratulations! What has not been achieved in the richest country in the world - I.e. the United States, Pakistan is already aiming towards it.
Finally someone is thinking about real problems of the poor.
Regards, rashid
IK can make wonders in Pakistan... This new is great to read
Bravo!! This is the top story of the day.
It is all about numbers. If 80 million people are to benefit and on average 50,000 subsidy is given to each individual every year, the scheme will incur the expense of 4 trillion rupees. This is about three times of our annual defence budget. I don't think out current revenue collection levels make this scheme feasible.
We are still waiting for the first house our of the five million promised by PTI, the first job of the 10 million promised by PTI and so on.
A blessing PM Khan. Great move.
Great initiative by PM IK.....but does government has funds to finance this program? History shows that government managed health care system in this part of the world is a failure.....
Excellent news for the poor and the needy people - "over 80 million, poor people will receive medical treatment up to Rs 720,000". No other government has done what PM Imran Khan has done for the poor people, as other so called leaders were busy making money through different means. This is a big CHANGE!
Given crushing debts, who will pay for this ?
Finally, a step in the right direction.
But when he get sick he takes off to London or Singapore.
Hi
I am an owner of a hospital accredited under the Sehat card scheme. It is truly a blessing for the poor who avail excellent healthcare, at no cost. Let’s hope it can be as successful across the country as it has been in KPK
Khan you are moving too fast... Country is not ready.
I thought Pakistan had free medical facilities through government hospitals. What this scheme is for?
Although all of these social programmes are needed, but one must also have the corresponding financial means, otherwise nothing will happen beyond the declarations.
Keep moving toward good Pakistan.
A country drowning in debt, borrowing daily to pay for loan payments on borrowed money, should be handing out INSAF TAX CARDS to the public, so for once, they can collect enough tax to pay the debt down. If it costs Rs 300 per patient(A very small amount) imagine what it will cost the government to provide 80 million citizens “Free healthcare” per visit, now imagine 4 to 5 times a year.
@Zubair, Andy positive step should be encouraged and not compared to the American level yet.
You are the true leader of people.great initiative for extremely poor people at speed.now this is a step towards a Madina state
@Meer, the Benazir scheme is named after a political figure, purely to get mileage for political gain. have you heard of a scheme for the unemployed or sick named after a political figure in Europe or north America?. secondly a substantial sum for the Benazir scheme is provided by the US and Britain, the question is why are these countries being so generous, the reason is they are providing funds to a scheme named after a person who fulfilled the western agenda. the ppp is making mileage out of it , it became so pathetic that it seemed every avenue , building , airport and even the country would be named Benazir. in relation to your question of the use of word Insaf,even in the hospitals of pakistan it's not just a matter of medicine that is important but rather the treatment be administered irrespective of rich or poor and as such Insaf is essential , valid as it may be you need to ask yourself has Imran Khan named the scheme after himself,?. I do agree that no scheme should be named after a political figure, as has been the case with the ppp and pmln.
@AK, what about Sindh?
Great work
Imran Khan, had only the people of Pakistan elected you 10 years ago. We would have been so far ahead as a nation and not under billions of dollars in debt trap.
Very good initiative. Hope people use it for their medical needs unlike other insurances from their companies. Why would you name it' Insaf'? Why not Sehat Pakistan Card? or just Sehat Sahulat Card?
Commendable news.Best wishes from India.
IK is taking the nation for a ride.Pakistan’s total estimated budget is Rs 5.2trillion. This Senat Insaf Card Scheme promises Rs. 5.7 trillion to 8 crore poor people. Where does he think will the money come for his scheme.?
@Zubair, a better system model would be the German, the model would be quasi private with independent government body to oversee the inspections and provide guidelines. but kudos to the government for this implementation, as we no do not have the vast economic resources to carry out what you suggest, rather it's a goal that this or any government should have in mind, I understand people want this or the other but the issue is where do you get the finances to provide all those essentials, rather change in every sector is carried out incrementally, please have some patience with a government that is actually trying to work for the betterment of the nation, as opposed to those two previous administrations.
Bravo. An admirable initiative.
In India there is Modicare free treatment for all poor
Where is a money to do all that ?
S&P has just reduced the rating of Pakistan to B- from B.
@Sceptic , it's run through insurance. A highly successful business model across the globe. Nothing new here. Great initiative if the cards indeed find their way to deserving people.
@Sceptic , It is an insurance.. meaning govt will pay insurance premiums only, not the full expense. Actual expense will be paid by State Life of Insurance for which they must have done all the extensive Actuarial Calculations.
I love how many "smart" people here genuinely believe that this was a brainchild of PML-N.
Maybe it was in a parallel universe but in this timeline the scheme was first launched in KPK and THEN copied by PML-N in Punjab.
Why do people find it so hard to google for basic information?
@S.A.K.Rahmani, you are assuming that every single person will use their card to full extent each year. firstly, only 15 million cards will be given over the first two years. secondly if you look at utiliztion, it's usually less than 10 percent of people actually using the card, as most people don't need care for chronic conditions/emergencies in a given year. to assume that's it's gonna be >5 trillion right off the bat is a simplistic mistake.
Excellent.
Excellent initiative and a first step towards making Pakistan a welfare state.
Hope that appropriate safeguards in place to make the best use of tax payers' money and to ensure that Health cards are not drained by private healthcare providers through excessive charges for different services.
@S.A.K.Rahmani, Hello genius, allow me to explain.
NOT EVERYONE will fall sick at the same time.
Do you think insurance companies have the reserves to cover every single of their policy holders?
Hope this will go through your head,
another scheme for social media cell of pti
Where is the money coming from?
Who will for the bill? This card is rather not important than Hajj subsidiary. Poor can’t afford Hajj now.
Good job Imran Khan . First Pakistani PM who really cares about common people
@Siana Kaan, Thanks for pointing out that this was PMNL initiation!!!
@Siana Kaan, not true. this is not something out of the blue. pti has been promising and planning for it for 5 years. so please don't take away credit. thanks.
@Maria enteparia onnuchoriu, nope. only to shaukat khanam in lahore, as we say when he was hospitalized for weeks after falling off a lift in 2013. you know nothing
@Sceptic ,
Unlikely 80 million people will fall ill in one year, and that too require 50000 rupees each. You need to understand how insurance works
Well done PM Khan
best news
It is a good initiative but how will it be funded? Who will make sure that system is not abused? At this point, there are more questions then answers.
In my personal opinion the best approach for the government will be to promote health insurance and educate people on benefits of carrying a health insurance. Then the government should set up a minimum wage rate so that no one can take advantage of the poor and if someone dare do not pay the minimum wage rate then they should be heavily penalized. This way the poor can afford their own health insurance and there will be no need for government to interfere.
I am afraid that if government start helping people out then people will become incompetent and will not work had as they will be looking towards government to bail them out. The best thing a government can do for its people is to introduce laws and create an environment for the benefit of the people plus merit and equal opportunity so the people know that hard work pays off.
@alliasa,
Insurance companies. Read up on it.
Highly disappointed after reading the comments here. No matter WHAT you do there will always be some naysayers. Pathetic lot with a pseudo-analytical brain, criticizing anything and everything under the sun.
Whether it is Nawaz, IK and even PPP, both will do some good things and some not so good ones. As long as there is no major corruption at the helm, the country will benefit from such positive initiatives. Some were taken in the previous two Governments (Daanish schools, Benzair Income Support Program) while others will be taken in the current one. Be patient. Stop being critical for the sake of being critical. Please.
Who will pay for all of this? Where will the money for all of this come from? As Thatcher famously said ‘socialism fails because you run out of spending other people’s money.’
This is a much needed thing poor. Good step. Hope the govt hospitals and doctors dont spoil it in greed. Same scheme and same concerns in India as well.
@Siana Kaan,
In fact, this was announced by PMLN in 2015, in Response to PTI's scheme in KP. The scheme in KP has been rolled out, but despite many ribbon cuttings etc, PMLN failed to roll this out in Punjab. There are also other major differences between PTI's plan and the water-downed version PMLN failed to launch (Google is indeed your friend), primarily the value of coverage. Basically, it's two different products.
In Jan 2018 the PMLN spokesperson announced it was going to be rolled out to 13 districts, and then nothing happened. The person announcing this was Salman Rafiq - currently in jail about to face corruption cases. That pretty much tells you the caliber and intentions behind the aborted PMLN scheme
@Zubair, are you going to provide the resources out of your own pocket or from thin air. did you ask the same from the previous two administrations.
Remove word insaf and issue first to over 55 age, widows, disabled and childrens.
Best to charge 300 a month in Gas or electric bill. All bills and account make available for public to investigate.
@Meer, did you say anything about "benazir card" stop whining! you can have all the Programs in world,but if is not implemented honestly it will be just another avenue for corruption! i hope it get help to people it is intended for!.
@Zullu, that is the question honesty and efficiency
@Ahmad, Right you are.
@Meer, Why not?
@Siana Kaan, Forget Pakistan, PML-N has been running government in Punjab for years and years then why have they not improved and buillt up hospitals, colleges and other welfare services in Punjab. I tell you why because your lot have been looting the country and building personal empires outside. I remember Your glorious leader went to London to be treated for a common cold.
@Fazh, why you have to be so rude. Show some respect IK was elected by millions of people of Pakistan.
@Maria enteparia onnuchoriu, 100% wrong. IK has never gone abroad for any health reasons.
@Anand, Healthy people are likely to be more productive. IK is a thinking man.
@Sceptic , read up in it State life is underwriting these it’s health Insurance not everyone will use all at the same time, that’s how insurance work. Your math is faulty to say the least
@LAHORI KID, and coming from a PML-N toady it is rich. Who took out zillions in loans leaving the country under mountains of debit, it was PML-N government of course.
@farooq anwar, coming from a PML-N It is rich.
Great job... now monitor it as corruption eats every good scheme. Send health minister to study Canadian health scheme and how successful its.
India launched a similar scheme last year , covering 500m people with a maximun Rs 10 lakh , one million (Pakistani rupees) .
Very good scheme , it will lead to the building of thousands of hospitals across the country
The government should make sure that private hospitals also provide care to health-card-holders.
In Canada all schemes and privileges from Govt. is associated with tax filing. Do the same. if a person has very low or no income then he is eligible for benefits. This will increase tax net too.
@Zubair, This is exactly the opposite of what the american model is all about. I am not sure what you think the american model is but they don't give out free healthcare at all.
For a country reeling under a US$ 92 Bn debt, i wonder who is going to fund this welfare disaster? There are no economic reforms yet, your I/E ratio is 2+ and tax evasion is rampant. Foreign remittancea are low as well.
@Siana Kaan, liar.
@Meer, what is your problem.
@Ahmed , Wow look at the health facilities in Punjab. Liar.
@Sceptic , you can't build your own house in 6 months. People like never achieve anything.
80 million to avail upto 720k. I think someone needs to do maths or we need to lower our defence spending
I would like to see more initiatives on prevention of ilnesses as well...
The less people fall ill, the less need they have to go to hospital etc...
In any case a good move by PTI and hopefully a wake up call for PMLN and PPP that if they don’t reform they are doomed
Funny so many folks here keep mentioning that this was launched by the previous government, my question is then why are so many people in Punjab and Sindh without the basic health facility and how I come I have never come across someone who benefited from this card in the past.
I dont want to google card pics that were issued in the past by previous government. I want to see someone who actually benefited from it. Do you know anyone?!
@Sceptic , you need to educate yourself about group insurance concept.. Govt will only pay insurance premium..
@Siana Kaan, gov gave contract to private insurance company. They will make sure. Gov cannot run insurance buisiness
@Ahmed , does it work?
@Zubair, you have no idea about american healthcare. Thats what IK is trying to do. Anerican hodpitals are private, no gov hospitals, except fir arm forces
@Jehengir khan, its not managed by gov, funded by gov
How is he going to Finance it? By asking for Money from foreign donors? Only market Economy will get this Country out of its Problems for good.
@farooq anwar, Why exactly are you so annoyed over this scheme?
Is it because your beloved Sharifs and Zaradris couldn't do this?
@Markhor ,
And you actually fell for it?
Public hospital can't cope with number of patients on a normal day so expect very long queues and hours of waiting.
Great! Thank you Mr.PM for taking the initiative to think about poor.
Health card will not give access to quality health care in a crumbling health system.
Old scheme of PML-N
@Hafeez, This is a great idea, but even in Canada, everyone gets a Health Insurance card and has no direct link to tax filing. Yes, other benefits, like child benefits or education benefits are linked to tax filing but health is universal for everyone.
Great step..
PML-N launched this health scheme in January 2016
The MAN requires 2 terms before being judged and he will make some mistakes but overall judge HIM only after 2 years. Imran, go for it!!!!!!!
Great job by PM Imran Khan.
Great and awesome are the 2 words come to mind
The money that used to be stolen from poors and deposited in Swiss banks is to be used by poors.
Very nice initiative...A suggestion. There should be no need to print and distribute separate cards. It can be linked to the National ID card.
@Siana Kaan, The only difference is that the money was limited within Sharif families so they could land in London for medical checkups and shopping! Now it’s being used by poor people.
Not sure how Pakistan can afford this. Politicians in Pakistan roll out these elaborate schemes but never say how they will pay for it. A few thousands benefit and the scheme soon dies.
A politician would never get away with doing this in the west.
How does one expect the government to pay for this? 80,000,000 x 50,000 ( minimum expected expenditure) = 4,000,000,000,000 This sums up to 4 trillion rupees or 40 billion US$. This is almost equal to our total budget expenditure and btw, 53% of which or 20 billion goes into to areas, that is, debt servicing and military spending. How can you spend US$40 billion on sehat card when you only have US$20 billion?
In KPK this scheme has been very dubious and I wonder how it will be implemented nationwide? Who are the people being chosen and given Sehat cards? Who is choosing them and on what criteria? What are the links of the lucky ones to PTI politicians? I know from personal experience as a pensioner how many difficulties people are really still facing in hospitals and meeting medical expenses. My sister is also a widow, and without any regular income, senior citizens of age 75; she has not been issued any card despite application. In addition, I know at least 6 or 7 other genuine cases where deserving people have been neglected and close relatives, friends or supporters of PTI leaders and their kin, have received cards fraudulently though they are all well off who can afford expensive medical treatment. The process is not at all honest or transparent, no matter what PM Imran thinks or says.
IK has an open mind. He is able to learn some good things from others This is a wonderful implementation
@Earij Pervez, If it is more than a joke, please show the head of account in the budget for 2018-19, from which the actual expenditure will be met, and the budget provided for this purpose.
Great achievement. It was Khan's promise and he has initiated first phase of his commitment. Now it is the people to use the Sehat Sahulat Card *Heakth Cards) judiciously and manage proper treatment of their sick family members. On the other hand, government must also devise a system of strict monitoring of hospital providing treatment to the card holders and preference of genuine bills by the hospital bill for treatments provided.
Excellent initiative, however, how ready the hospitals are ready will be the real test
Good initiative
@Meer,
This is the only insaf we are depending on.. let see
@Ahmed ,
Only now its well promoted...
@Bay Adab,
We forget about the past soon.
@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani,
Not the first time is it...
Great effort. PTI looking after even at the end.
‘He further said that in case of an accidental death, Rs10,000 will be given to the card holder's family to cover the costs of the funeral.’
Without assuring the necessary means, these sehat cards are just useless pieces of papers!
@Sceptic , This is not the way these things work. It is like a health insurance card, or any insurance for that matter. The government will not hand out Rs 50,000 to each enrollee. In a given year, a good majority of these 80 million will stay healthy and thus add nothing to the cost. On the other hand, a small minority will have health costs that will far exceed the amount you quoted. Some others will have minor expenses. It will all even out in the end. The total cost will not be anywhere near trillions of rupees.
Bless you Prime Minister. This is Sufism to the core. Proud of our Honorable Prime minister Imran Khan.
"Who will pay for ir?" Funny we never ask this question about building a brand new international airport or an ambitious missile development program, or any number of other expenses.
@Shyam, Please check the ratings in recent years. It had frequently dipped into C's and "negative" during the previous governments. Right now it is rated as "stable." Give the new government a chance.
It’s a good intention... needs to be well executed but first we need to build our health system — which is full of inadequacies of personnel, infrastructure, IT and medicine supply systems.
Waist of public money,creating ground for big corruption scandal.provide poor free health thru Government hospital and monitor.
It is not clear what do you mean country wide programme. While minister statement mention Punjab, Islamabad, FATA and Gilgit Baltistan. KPK already covered in Insaf health program. What about Baluchistan and Sindh? Are these are not parts of Pakistan and federal government? These both provinces are more poor than other provinces. Even they could have included Thar, where everyday children are dying.
Good initiative and IK copied it from last year initiative of India. But good as long as it is good for poor people.
Health is important. Great initiative.
The Thought is Noble but where is the money going to come from? Who is going to pay for it? How? 720000/person X 80 Million people is equal to roughly 58 Trillion Rupees. Whole of Pakistan does NOT have that kind of money. If we even had a fraction fo that money; we will not be begging in the World for a few Hundred Billion Rupees..
@Anand, Don't worry. It is just a stunt. Nothing will come of off it.
@hussain, both of you are missing the point here, who cares what it’s called, that’s trivia, what matters is free health care is going to be given to the needy, so turn down the criticism, IK is doing fine, be happy for small blessings.
Excellent initiative and very much needed in Pakistan. Kudos to the new government.
Why not government amend some laws and make it mandatory in all the public & private institutions to to provide medical insurance to their employees free of charge, & a small amount to be charged for insurance of family members. This will help the people and the business sector also. One more thing is the name of this card Sehat Insaf Card, why Insaf? Is PTI providing funds from party account or is it a way of publicizing the party on state funds.
And how do you fund such a massive project?
So 80 million cards multiply it by 720,000RS divide it by current rate Of USD that is $426 billion over two years. So how is IK going to fund this? Meanwhile the dam cost is what $12 billion. What a joke.
A great initiative by PTI government, but it should ensure that people including patients, doctors, medical stores, Medical Labs, private hospitals do not abuse this well intention service.
To pre-empt the Fraud, it should publicize the severe punishment for the culprits in the media and perform sting operations at large scale on regular basis.
To report fraud, government has to setup a Fraud Line. One who reported fraud should be rewarded.
Government may want to ask the Health Card Holder to use it judiciously. This is the Taxpayers money, it has to be spend with care and responsibly.
Doctors and hospitals found guilty of fraud, their license should be cancelled and made them pay hefty fines respectively.
Areas to watch large number of frauds:
- Unnecessary Lab Tests
- Unnecessarily referring patients to the Specialists to get their cut.
- Unnecessarily bringing in patients for the Follow-Up visit
- Unnecessarily referring for the Surgical Operation for example to get rid of
the Knee Pain, which could be treated with medicine. - Keeping Patient in the hospital longer than needed
- Doctors writing expensive drugs to buy from certain Medical Store(s)
- Patients selling their expensive medicine to other Medical Stores . .
Keeping all the Data and it analysis will provide lot of pointers to avoid Fraud.
An audit is the must with built in Sting Operations in the system.
Sooner the government have few successful operations and Shut those Medical Labs down to set an example will create lot of deterrence against fraud.
Professional Crooks learn very quickly.
Good Luck!
@Arun
Nice to hear that
Do people have to apply to get that card or it will be given to all families?
@Khan, A true leader makes decisions based on realities, a true leader does not make emotional decisions, they make tough decisions, it’s not about making people happy right now, it’s about letting people see a good solid future. How does the PM plan to pay for all of this? Last I checked, the government didn’t have enough money to pay their own electric bill.
This facility is needed direly by poor people and this initiative going to earn a good name for this government. It's a good move forward.
Same country, same resources, same opportunities that previous governments failed to deliver to the people. I hope PPP and Nawaz group are watching.
@ghulam mustafa, 18th Amendment. Remember?
@WBM I agree
Does the respective provincial governments providing the fund to support this project?
If the Federal Government is providing the fund then why Balohistan and Sindh is not covered under it?
@Earij Pervez, Insurance companies only cover premium paying members not everyone.
It is a good initiative taken by PTI government, but it needs to spend more money on the Preventive Care to put an handle on the prevalent Chronic and fatal diseases such as Diabetes, Heart disease and Cancer.
Qualified Insurance Card Holders must have a mandatory "Annual Physical" Exam:
- Blood Test as thorough as needed.
- Patient with the Diabetes has to test his/her HbA1c three times a year or after every four months.
- A Dilated Eye Exam
- Regular Eye Exam
- People over 50 at least have Stool Occult Blood Test for Colon Cancer.
- Patient over 40 EKG and or ECG
- Mammogram (Females Only from the age of puberty)
- Dental Exam . . In USA, couple of Big Chains or Grocery Stores provides a great service to their nation by providing couple of prescription drugs for Free or at a very nominal cost
PUBLIX provides an Antibiotic- Amoxicilline- and Metformin (A Diabetes Drug) for FREE of charge, while WALMART charges Only $3 for the whole month supply.
A perfect initiative if also launched properly in Karachi, rest of Sindh and Balochistan.
I don't believe in Socialism
This Healthcare program is bringing Pakistan one step closer to Universal Health Coverage.
Keep it up!
Comments (156) Closed
Hope this will be equally successful in Punjab also.
Awesome initiative!
Very good initiative if implemented honestly and efficiently.
This is not a new scheme and it has existed since PMLN times and has been re-packaged only. Difference is that only picture of NS and SS have been removed. Google it and look for images of its previous inaugurations, if in doubt!
Real issues is the quality of health service that is available in the hospitals on the insurance panel for this scheme. Our general and private hospitals have very poor quality of actual health provisions that are needed to provide care especially those on its panel. It will give rise to further exploitation in the name of the poor by doing unnecessary treatments and over-inflated insurance claims unless proper checks and balances are instituted with a clear understanding of corruption that is rife in every part of Pakistani culture.
Why do you add "Insaf" in this scheme? Just Seht Card is enough. Do You want to promote your party with gov expenses like others?
This program, as intiated by the previous government, is already in place in most of Punjab
Well done sir/prime minister of Pakistan. Salute to you.
If this project materializes and our poor will really get access to free medical services, as this article suggests, then my view point will change towards the PTI, for sure.
Instead of providing these sehat cards, and encouraging an american model of healthcare, the govt should improve public hospitals infrastcture, quality and standards. Establish a large world class hospital in every divisional headquarter, which should be equipped with every modern facility for almost every disease. Also, ensure timely access to such a hospital by building a net of modern ambulance services accross the country. By issuing these health card, you are actually putting off your shoulders the responsibility of fixing govt hospitals and thus providing free and accessible healthcare to citizens.
Best
PMIK did not make any budget allocation for this.
Congratulations! What has not been achieved in the richest country in the world - I.e. the United States, Pakistan is already aiming towards it.
Finally someone is thinking about real problems of the poor.
Regards, rashid
IK can make wonders in Pakistan... This new is great to read
Bravo!! This is the top story of the day.
It is all about numbers. If 80 million people are to benefit and on average 50,000 subsidy is given to each individual every year, the scheme will incur the expense of 4 trillion rupees. This is about three times of our annual defence budget. I don't think out current revenue collection levels make this scheme feasible.
We are still waiting for the first house our of the five million promised by PTI, the first job of the 10 million promised by PTI and so on.
A blessing PM Khan. Great move.
Great initiative by PM IK.....but does government has funds to finance this program? History shows that government managed health care system in this part of the world is a failure.....
Excellent news for the poor and the needy people - "over 80 million, poor people will receive medical treatment up to Rs 720,000". No other government has done what PM Imran Khan has done for the poor people, as other so called leaders were busy making money through different means. This is a big CHANGE!
Given crushing debts, who will pay for this ?
Finally, a step in the right direction.
But when he get sick he takes off to London or Singapore.
Hi
I am an owner of a hospital accredited under the Sehat card scheme. It is truly a blessing for the poor who avail excellent healthcare, at no cost. Let’s hope it can be as successful across the country as it has been in KPK
Khan you are moving too fast... Country is not ready.
I thought Pakistan had free medical facilities through government hospitals. What this scheme is for?
Although all of these social programmes are needed, but one must also have the corresponding financial means, otherwise nothing will happen beyond the declarations.
Keep moving toward good Pakistan.
A country drowning in debt, borrowing daily to pay for loan payments on borrowed money, should be handing out INSAF TAX CARDS to the public, so for once, they can collect enough tax to pay the debt down. If it costs Rs 300 per patient(A very small amount) imagine what it will cost the government to provide 80 million citizens “Free healthcare” per visit, now imagine 4 to 5 times a year.
@Zubair, Andy positive step should be encouraged and not compared to the American level yet.
You are the true leader of people.great initiative for extremely poor people at speed.now this is a step towards a Madina state
@Meer, the Benazir scheme is named after a political figure, purely to get mileage for political gain. have you heard of a scheme for the unemployed or sick named after a political figure in Europe or north America?. secondly a substantial sum for the Benazir scheme is provided by the US and Britain, the question is why are these countries being so generous, the reason is they are providing funds to a scheme named after a person who fulfilled the western agenda. the ppp is making mileage out of it , it became so pathetic that it seemed every avenue , building , airport and even the country would be named Benazir. in relation to your question of the use of word Insaf,even in the hospitals of pakistan it's not just a matter of medicine that is important but rather the treatment be administered irrespective of rich or poor and as such Insaf is essential , valid as it may be you need to ask yourself has Imran Khan named the scheme after himself,?. I do agree that no scheme should be named after a political figure, as has been the case with the ppp and pmln.
@AK, what about Sindh?
Great work
Imran Khan, had only the people of Pakistan elected you 10 years ago. We would have been so far ahead as a nation and not under billions of dollars in debt trap.
Very good initiative. Hope people use it for their medical needs unlike other insurances from their companies. Why would you name it' Insaf'? Why not Sehat Pakistan Card? or just Sehat Sahulat Card?
Commendable news.Best wishes from India.
IK is taking the nation for a ride.Pakistan’s total estimated budget is Rs 5.2trillion. This Senat Insaf Card Scheme promises Rs. 5.7 trillion to 8 crore poor people. Where does he think will the money come for his scheme.?
@Zubair, a better system model would be the German, the model would be quasi private with independent government body to oversee the inspections and provide guidelines. but kudos to the government for this implementation, as we no do not have the vast economic resources to carry out what you suggest, rather it's a goal that this or any government should have in mind, I understand people want this or the other but the issue is where do you get the finances to provide all those essentials, rather change in every sector is carried out incrementally, please have some patience with a government that is actually trying to work for the betterment of the nation, as opposed to those two previous administrations.
Bravo. An admirable initiative.
In India there is Modicare free treatment for all poor
Where is a money to do all that ?
S&P has just reduced the rating of Pakistan to B- from B.
@Sceptic , it's run through insurance. A highly successful business model across the globe. Nothing new here. Great initiative if the cards indeed find their way to deserving people.
@Sceptic , It is an insurance.. meaning govt will pay insurance premiums only, not the full expense. Actual expense will be paid by State Life of Insurance for which they must have done all the extensive Actuarial Calculations.
I love how many "smart" people here genuinely believe that this was a brainchild of PML-N.
Maybe it was in a parallel universe but in this timeline the scheme was first launched in KPK and THEN copied by PML-N in Punjab.
Why do people find it so hard to google for basic information?
@S.A.K.Rahmani, you are assuming that every single person will use their card to full extent each year. firstly, only 15 million cards will be given over the first two years. secondly if you look at utiliztion, it's usually less than 10 percent of people actually using the card, as most people don't need care for chronic conditions/emergencies in a given year. to assume that's it's gonna be >5 trillion right off the bat is a simplistic mistake.
Excellent.
Excellent initiative and a first step towards making Pakistan a welfare state.
Hope that appropriate safeguards in place to make the best use of tax payers' money and to ensure that Health cards are not drained by private healthcare providers through excessive charges for different services.
@S.A.K.Rahmani, Hello genius, allow me to explain.
NOT EVERYONE will fall sick at the same time.
Do you think insurance companies have the reserves to cover every single of their policy holders?
Hope this will go through your head,
another scheme for social media cell of pti
Where is the money coming from?
Who will for the bill? This card is rather not important than Hajj subsidiary. Poor can’t afford Hajj now.
Good job Imran Khan . First Pakistani PM who really cares about common people
@Siana Kaan, Thanks for pointing out that this was PMNL initiation!!!
@Siana Kaan, not true. this is not something out of the blue. pti has been promising and planning for it for 5 years. so please don't take away credit. thanks.
@Maria enteparia onnuchoriu, nope. only to shaukat khanam in lahore, as we say when he was hospitalized for weeks after falling off a lift in 2013. you know nothing
@Sceptic ,
Unlikely 80 million people will fall ill in one year, and that too require 50000 rupees each. You need to understand how insurance works
Well done PM Khan
best news
It is a good initiative but how will it be funded? Who will make sure that system is not abused? At this point, there are more questions then answers.
In my personal opinion the best approach for the government will be to promote health insurance and educate people on benefits of carrying a health insurance. Then the government should set up a minimum wage rate so that no one can take advantage of the poor and if someone dare do not pay the minimum wage rate then they should be heavily penalized. This way the poor can afford their own health insurance and there will be no need for government to interfere.
I am afraid that if government start helping people out then people will become incompetent and will not work had as they will be looking towards government to bail them out. The best thing a government can do for its people is to introduce laws and create an environment for the benefit of the people plus merit and equal opportunity so the people know that hard work pays off.
@alliasa,
Insurance companies. Read up on it.
Highly disappointed after reading the comments here. No matter WHAT you do there will always be some naysayers. Pathetic lot with a pseudo-analytical brain, criticizing anything and everything under the sun.
Whether it is Nawaz, IK and even PPP, both will do some good things and some not so good ones. As long as there is no major corruption at the helm, the country will benefit from such positive initiatives. Some were taken in the previous two Governments (Daanish schools, Benzair Income Support Program) while others will be taken in the current one. Be patient. Stop being critical for the sake of being critical. Please.
Who will pay for all of this? Where will the money for all of this come from? As Thatcher famously said ‘socialism fails because you run out of spending other people’s money.’
This is a much needed thing poor. Good step. Hope the govt hospitals and doctors dont spoil it in greed. Same scheme and same concerns in India as well.
@Siana Kaan,
In fact, this was announced by PMLN in 2015, in Response to PTI's scheme in KP. The scheme in KP has been rolled out, but despite many ribbon cuttings etc, PMLN failed to roll this out in Punjab. There are also other major differences between PTI's plan and the water-downed version PMLN failed to launch (Google is indeed your friend), primarily the value of coverage. Basically, it's two different products.
In Jan 2018 the PMLN spokesperson announced it was going to be rolled out to 13 districts, and then nothing happened. The person announcing this was Salman Rafiq - currently in jail about to face corruption cases. That pretty much tells you the caliber and intentions behind the aborted PMLN scheme
@Zubair, are you going to provide the resources out of your own pocket or from thin air. did you ask the same from the previous two administrations.
Remove word insaf and issue first to over 55 age, widows, disabled and childrens.
Best to charge 300 a month in Gas or electric bill. All bills and account make available for public to investigate.
@Meer, did you say anything about "benazir card" stop whining! you can have all the Programs in world,but if is not implemented honestly it will be just another avenue for corruption! i hope it get help to people it is intended for!.
@Zullu, that is the question honesty and efficiency
@Ahmad, Right you are.
@Meer, Why not?
@Siana Kaan, Forget Pakistan, PML-N has been running government in Punjab for years and years then why have they not improved and buillt up hospitals, colleges and other welfare services in Punjab. I tell you why because your lot have been looting the country and building personal empires outside. I remember Your glorious leader went to London to be treated for a common cold.
@Fazh, why you have to be so rude. Show some respect IK was elected by millions of people of Pakistan.
@Maria enteparia onnuchoriu, 100% wrong. IK has never gone abroad for any health reasons.
@Anand, Healthy people are likely to be more productive. IK is a thinking man.
@Sceptic , read up in it State life is underwriting these it’s health Insurance not everyone will use all at the same time, that’s how insurance work. Your math is faulty to say the least
@LAHORI KID, and coming from a PML-N toady it is rich. Who took out zillions in loans leaving the country under mountains of debit, it was PML-N government of course.
@farooq anwar, coming from a PML-N It is rich.
Great job... now monitor it as corruption eats every good scheme. Send health minister to study Canadian health scheme and how successful its.
India launched a similar scheme last year , covering 500m people with a maximun Rs 10 lakh , one million (Pakistani rupees) .
Very good scheme , it will lead to the building of thousands of hospitals across the country
The government should make sure that private hospitals also provide care to health-card-holders.
In Canada all schemes and privileges from Govt. is associated with tax filing. Do the same. if a person has very low or no income then he is eligible for benefits. This will increase tax net too.
@Zubair, This is exactly the opposite of what the american model is all about. I am not sure what you think the american model is but they don't give out free healthcare at all.
For a country reeling under a US$ 92 Bn debt, i wonder who is going to fund this welfare disaster? There are no economic reforms yet, your I/E ratio is 2+ and tax evasion is rampant. Foreign remittancea are low as well.
@Siana Kaan, liar.
@Meer, what is your problem.
@Ahmed , Wow look at the health facilities in Punjab. Liar.
@Sceptic , you can't build your own house in 6 months. People like never achieve anything.
80 million to avail upto 720k. I think someone needs to do maths or we need to lower our defence spending
I would like to see more initiatives on prevention of ilnesses as well...
The less people fall ill, the less need they have to go to hospital etc...
In any case a good move by PTI and hopefully a wake up call for PMLN and PPP that if they don’t reform they are doomed
Funny so many folks here keep mentioning that this was launched by the previous government, my question is then why are so many people in Punjab and Sindh without the basic health facility and how I come I have never come across someone who benefited from this card in the past.
I dont want to google card pics that were issued in the past by previous government. I want to see someone who actually benefited from it. Do you know anyone?!
@Sceptic , you need to educate yourself about group insurance concept.. Govt will only pay insurance premium..
@Siana Kaan, gov gave contract to private insurance company. They will make sure. Gov cannot run insurance buisiness
@Ahmed , does it work?
@Zubair, you have no idea about american healthcare. Thats what IK is trying to do. Anerican hodpitals are private, no gov hospitals, except fir arm forces
@Jehengir khan, its not managed by gov, funded by gov
How is he going to Finance it? By asking for Money from foreign donors? Only market Economy will get this Country out of its Problems for good.
@farooq anwar, Why exactly are you so annoyed over this scheme?
Is it because your beloved Sharifs and Zaradris couldn't do this?
@Markhor ,
And you actually fell for it?
Public hospital can't cope with number of patients on a normal day so expect very long queues and hours of waiting.
Great! Thank you Mr.PM for taking the initiative to think about poor.
Health card will not give access to quality health care in a crumbling health system.
Old scheme of PML-N
@Hafeez, This is a great idea, but even in Canada, everyone gets a Health Insurance card and has no direct link to tax filing. Yes, other benefits, like child benefits or education benefits are linked to tax filing but health is universal for everyone.
Great step..
PML-N launched this health scheme in January 2016
The MAN requires 2 terms before being judged and he will make some mistakes but overall judge HIM only after 2 years. Imran, go for it!!!!!!!
Great job by PM Imran Khan.
Great and awesome are the 2 words come to mind
The money that used to be stolen from poors and deposited in Swiss banks is to be used by poors.
Very nice initiative...A suggestion. There should be no need to print and distribute separate cards. It can be linked to the National ID card.
@Siana Kaan, The only difference is that the money was limited within Sharif families so they could land in London for medical checkups and shopping! Now it’s being used by poor people.
Not sure how Pakistan can afford this. Politicians in Pakistan roll out these elaborate schemes but never say how they will pay for it. A few thousands benefit and the scheme soon dies.
A politician would never get away with doing this in the west.
How does one expect the government to pay for this? 80,000,000 x 50,000 ( minimum expected expenditure) = 4,000,000,000,000 This sums up to 4 trillion rupees or 40 billion US$. This is almost equal to our total budget expenditure and btw, 53% of which or 20 billion goes into to areas, that is, debt servicing and military spending. How can you spend US$40 billion on sehat card when you only have US$20 billion?
In KPK this scheme has been very dubious and I wonder how it will be implemented nationwide? Who are the people being chosen and given Sehat cards? Who is choosing them and on what criteria? What are the links of the lucky ones to PTI politicians? I know from personal experience as a pensioner how many difficulties people are really still facing in hospitals and meeting medical expenses. My sister is also a widow, and without any regular income, senior citizens of age 75; she has not been issued any card despite application. In addition, I know at least 6 or 7 other genuine cases where deserving people have been neglected and close relatives, friends or supporters of PTI leaders and their kin, have received cards fraudulently though they are all well off who can afford expensive medical treatment. The process is not at all honest or transparent, no matter what PM Imran thinks or says.
IK has an open mind. He is able to learn some good things from others This is a wonderful implementation
@Earij Pervez, If it is more than a joke, please show the head of account in the budget for 2018-19, from which the actual expenditure will be met, and the budget provided for this purpose.
Great achievement. It was Khan's promise and he has initiated first phase of his commitment. Now it is the people to use the Sehat Sahulat Card *Heakth Cards) judiciously and manage proper treatment of their sick family members. On the other hand, government must also devise a system of strict monitoring of hospital providing treatment to the card holders and preference of genuine bills by the hospital bill for treatments provided.
Excellent initiative, however, how ready the hospitals are ready will be the real test
Good initiative
@Meer,
This is the only insaf we are depending on.. let see
@Ahmed ,
Only now its well promoted...
@Bay Adab,
We forget about the past soon.
@Anti-Corruption_Pakistani,
Not the first time is it...
Great effort. PTI looking after even at the end.
‘He further said that in case of an accidental death, Rs10,000 will be given to the card holder's family to cover the costs of the funeral.’
Without assuring the necessary means, these sehat cards are just useless pieces of papers!
@Sceptic , This is not the way these things work. It is like a health insurance card, or any insurance for that matter. The government will not hand out Rs 50,000 to each enrollee. In a given year, a good majority of these 80 million will stay healthy and thus add nothing to the cost. On the other hand, a small minority will have health costs that will far exceed the amount you quoted. Some others will have minor expenses. It will all even out in the end. The total cost will not be anywhere near trillions of rupees.
Bless you Prime Minister. This is Sufism to the core. Proud of our Honorable Prime minister Imran Khan.
"Who will pay for ir?" Funny we never ask this question about building a brand new international airport or an ambitious missile development program, or any number of other expenses.
@Shyam, Please check the ratings in recent years. It had frequently dipped into C's and "negative" during the previous governments. Right now it is rated as "stable." Give the new government a chance.
It’s a good intention... needs to be well executed but first we need to build our health system — which is full of inadequacies of personnel, infrastructure, IT and medicine supply systems.
Waist of public money,creating ground for big corruption scandal.provide poor free health thru Government hospital and monitor.
It is not clear what do you mean country wide programme. While minister statement mention Punjab, Islamabad, FATA and Gilgit Baltistan. KPK already covered in Insaf health program. What about Baluchistan and Sindh? Are these are not parts of Pakistan and federal government? These both provinces are more poor than other provinces. Even they could have included Thar, where everyday children are dying.
Good initiative and IK copied it from last year initiative of India. But good as long as it is good for poor people.
Health is important. Great initiative.
The Thought is Noble but where is the money going to come from? Who is going to pay for it? How? 720000/person X 80 Million people is equal to roughly 58 Trillion Rupees. Whole of Pakistan does NOT have that kind of money. If we even had a fraction fo that money; we will not be begging in the World for a few Hundred Billion Rupees..
@Anand, Don't worry. It is just a stunt. Nothing will come of off it.
@hussain, both of you are missing the point here, who cares what it’s called, that’s trivia, what matters is free health care is going to be given to the needy, so turn down the criticism, IK is doing fine, be happy for small blessings.
Excellent initiative and very much needed in Pakistan. Kudos to the new government.
Why not government amend some laws and make it mandatory in all the public & private institutions to to provide medical insurance to their employees free of charge, & a small amount to be charged for insurance of family members. This will help the people and the business sector also. One more thing is the name of this card Sehat Insaf Card, why Insaf? Is PTI providing funds from party account or is it a way of publicizing the party on state funds.
And how do you fund such a massive project?
So 80 million cards multiply it by 720,000RS divide it by current rate Of USD that is $426 billion over two years. So how is IK going to fund this? Meanwhile the dam cost is what $12 billion. What a joke.
A great initiative by PTI government, but it should ensure that people including patients, doctors, medical stores, Medical Labs, private hospitals do not abuse this well intention service.
To pre-empt the Fraud, it should publicize the severe punishment for the culprits in the media and perform sting operations at large scale on regular basis.
To report fraud, government has to setup a Fraud Line. One who reported fraud should be rewarded.
Government may want to ask the Health Card Holder to use it judiciously. This is the Taxpayers money, it has to be spend with care and responsibly.
Doctors and hospitals found guilty of fraud, their license should be cancelled and made them pay hefty fines respectively.
Areas to watch large number of frauds:
the Knee Pain, which could be treated with medicine.
Keeping all the Data and it analysis will provide lot of pointers to avoid Fraud.
An audit is the must with built in Sting Operations in the system.
Sooner the government have few successful operations and Shut those Medical Labs down to set an example will create lot of deterrence against fraud.
Professional Crooks learn very quickly.
Good Luck!
@Arun
Nice to hear that
Do people have to apply to get that card or it will be given to all families?
@Khan, A true leader makes decisions based on realities, a true leader does not make emotional decisions, they make tough decisions, it’s not about making people happy right now, it’s about letting people see a good solid future. How does the PM plan to pay for all of this? Last I checked, the government didn’t have enough money to pay their own electric bill.
This facility is needed direly by poor people and this initiative going to earn a good name for this government. It's a good move forward.
Same country, same resources, same opportunities that previous governments failed to deliver to the people. I hope PPP and Nawaz group are watching.
@ghulam mustafa, 18th Amendment. Remember?
@WBM I agree
Does the respective provincial governments providing the fund to support this project?
If the Federal Government is providing the fund then why Balohistan and Sindh is not covered under it?
@Earij Pervez, Insurance companies only cover premium paying members not everyone.
It is a good initiative taken by PTI government, but it needs to spend more money on the Preventive Care to put an handle on the prevalent Chronic and fatal diseases such as Diabetes, Heart disease and Cancer.
Qualified Insurance Card Holders must have a mandatory "Annual Physical" Exam:
PUBLIX provides an Antibiotic- Amoxicilline- and Metformin (A Diabetes Drug) for FREE of charge, while WALMART charges Only $3 for the whole month supply.
A perfect initiative if also launched properly in Karachi, rest of Sindh and Balochistan.
I don't believe in Socialism
This Healthcare program is bringing Pakistan one step closer to Universal Health Coverage.
Keep it up!