“Sehat Card Program” relaunched and expanded to Islamabad, AJK and GB

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday revived and expanded the Prime Minister’s Health Card scheme in Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan while reaffirming the federal government’s commitment to providing quality healthcare as a fundamental right of every citizen.

Addressing the launching ceremony, the Prime Minister said the initiative marked another major step towards providing health facilities at the doorsteps of the people.

The Prime Minister recalled that the health card system was first introduced in 2016 under the leadership of former Prime Minister and PML-N President Nawaz Sharif and was then rapidly expanded across provinces.

He said there was nothing more valuable in life than health. “If there is health, there is education; if there is health, there is dignified employment; if there is health, there is progress in all areas of life,” he noted.

The prime minister said the wealthy sections of society could afford expensive treatments anywhere in the world, but the real test of the state lay in protecting the poor, widows, orphans and daily wage earners who were struggling to make ends meet.

“If a worker falls ill and leaves this world without treatment, his children are left in permanent darkness. Healthcare is the right of every Pakistani, whether he is a Prime Minister or a street vendor,” he said.

The Prime Minister congratulated Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, Health Secretary and their entire team on this launch, urging them to ensure transparent implementation through third-party monitoring so that treatment is provided in the right facilities and to the right standards.

He expressed confidence that honest execution of the program would serve the people.

Expressing hope that the program would be implemented quickly and effectively, he said he would personally monitor the program through visits and inspections in collaboration with Islamabad health officials, parliamentarians, the Chief Minister of GB and the Prime Minister of AJK.

Responding to a request to extend the program to Sindh, he said the proposal was valid and assured the audience that he would personally take up the issue with Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah. He noted that the program was already progressing rapidly in Punjab, with billions of rupees spent on healthcare, and commended the Punjab government for its efforts.

He added that while other provinces had their own health initiatives, efforts would be made to ensure that similar facilities were made available across the country.

Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed hope that the Prime Minister’s Health Card scheme would gain momentum across the country, bringing relief to millions of families.

Earlier, Kamal said the revival of the card system would provide free and cashless healthcare to nearly 10 million residents of Islamabad, AJK and GB. He said the program ensures citizens receive treatment without worrying about affordability in times of pain and distress.

The minister said that within four to five weeks, a program that had gone dormant had been fully revived, calling it a “major administrative achievement.” He stressed that health care should not be limited to treating illness alone.

“Health care is about preventing people from becoming patients, ensuring safe delivery, vaccinating children, providing clean water and strengthening preventative care,” he said.

Sharing operational details, Kamal said around 70 hospitals were being established under the Prime Minister’s health card in Islamabad, AJK and GB, including 20 more hospitals in Islamabad alone. He added that cardholders from these regions living in Karachi would also be able to access treatment at 16 designated hospitals in the city.

He noted that Sindh remained the only province where the health card was not yet operational, while Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan and federal territories were already covered.

Referring to the proposals discussed earlier, he said a plan covering 10 rural and urban districts of Sindh, with an estimated cost of Rs 24 billion, had been prepared.

“If funding is provided for just two years, the program can become self-sustaining from the third year,” he said, expressing hope that the lack of healthcare in Sindh can also be addressed.