RAWALPINDI: The Punjab government on Friday distributed 257,000 health cards among deserving people in the Rawalpindi district.

Minister for Health Dr Yasmeen Rashid distributed the cards at a function.

The health cards distribution ceremony had been postponed twice during the last three weeks.

Earlier, Prime Minister Imran Khan was scheduled to distribute the cards on May 10 but the function was cancelled.

Later, Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar was to be the chief guest but the function was postponed again last week.

MNA Sheikh Rashid Shafique distributed the health cards in the city area last week.

Cardholders to get medicines, treatment costing up to Rs700,000, provincial minister says

The cards were distributed among people of the rural areas of the district by the health minister on Friday.

Addressing the function held at Topi Rakh Auditorium, the minister said the cardholders would get medicines and treatment costing up to Rs700,000.

She said more than 7,200,000 people in the province would get the facility by the end of this year.

The minister said the government was also working to improve the condition of hospitals and the basic health units.

The cards would be renewed every year and the government will conduct a poverty survey and increase the number of cards.

She said the health cards had been issued to people with low income so they could avail of free treatment from private and government hospitals.

She said the number of family members would be mentioned in the health cards.

“The facility will cover CT scan, kidney dialysis and other tests. Transport charges will be given by hospital administration to the cardholder,” she said.

“Persons with disabilities and labourers will get special cards. Labourers who get medical facilities from Social Security Hospital will be issued the health cards,” she said.

She said for the distribution of the cards the government had set the target of 13,00,000.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2019