Historic health card programme facilitating weaker sections: PM

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan said Wednesday that a new system is being created in the health sector with the Health Facility Card and noted the current programme will promote private sector hospitals and help them provide their services in rural and remote areas.

The prime minister directed the federal and provincial governments and the State Life to set up special units for the Health Card Programme to monitor the implementation of the programme and resolve any issues immediately.

In this connection, a review meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan on the government's historic initiative in the health sector to provide quality health services to the people through the Health Facility Card. The meeting was attended by Special Assistant for Health Dr Faisal Sultan, Special Assistant Dr Shahbaz Gill, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmeen Rashid, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra, federal and provincial secretaries for Health Department and other senior officials.

A briefing was given on the provision of health cards in Punjab and KP, the number of beneficiaries and the expenditure incurred on this programme so far and the resulting relief to the people. The meeting was informed that through the health card in KP, millions of people have benefited through the admission of 210,200 in various public and private hospitals on which Rs5.3 billion have been spent so far.

Expressing satisfaction over the relief available to the people through the health card, the prime minister said that the present programme of providing quality health services is the largest and most historic programme in the history of the country. He said that for the first time the present government has started a comprehensive programme realising the weaker sections in the field of health, thanks to which not only public but also private hospitals are providing quality healthcare to the weaker sections. The prime minister directed the concerned authorities to promote the programme properly so that as many people as possible are aware of the programme and its benefits and benefit from it.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister was told a comprehensive strategy has been formulated to provide the best facilities to tourists in KP, as Chief Minister Mahmood Khan met him here. The chief minister apprised the prime minister in detail on the ongoing tourismactivities in various districts and the steps taken by the government to facilitate and address the problems of domestic and foreign tourists.

Imran Khan meanwhile, directed Balochistan Governor Syed Zahoor Agha to visit all the districts of the province to ensure effective measures to solve the problems of the people. Zahoor Agha and Deputy Speaker National Assembly Qasim Khan Suri called on Imran Khan here. Issues related to Balochistan were discussed in the meeting.