25m health cards for low-income groups

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for National Health Services Amir Mahmoud Kiani yesterday said the government will start a health insurance programme in the country and would distribute nearly 25 million health insurance cards to the poor and needy by the beginning of next month.

During a visit to Benazir Bhutto Hospital, Kiani inquired after the health of patients and visited different wards.

Later talking to journalists, he said the government would announce a new health policy soon.

The health care system of Pakistan is beset with numerous problems mainly because of the apathy of the past governments toward the health sector, the minister said, which is evident from the fact that previous governments failed to develop a ‘National Health Policy’.

Due to this, he said, the country miserably failed to meet the health-related targets.

Bringing about change

Kiani said all efforts would be made to bring about a change in the health sector since the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party had started giving due preference to health and working towards the formulation of a national health policy to deal with challenges the sector faces.

The minister said, under the health card scheme, low-income segments of the society would be provided with health cards.

He added that there was a dire need to spend more money on public health.

Kiani further revealed that basic health centres would also be upgraded to provide relief to the people.

Efforts would be made to address challenges facing young doctors, he added.