Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has the distinction that it has launched Sehat Saulat Program, under which each and every registered family of newly merged districts of erstwhile FATA will get free health facilities, which is unprecedented.
Ajmal Khan Wazir, Advisor to CM – Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for tribal districts shared these views during a youth convention jointly organized by Individualland, a research-based consultancy and advocacy group and CRS, a strategic communications company here at a local hotel.
Dr Muhammad Riaz Tanoli, Director Social Health Protection Initiative, Govt. of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Dr Khalid Masood, Director, Lady Reading Hospital and students of various universities and colleges from across KP participated in the convention.
Mr Wazir urged the youth to play their role not only regarding awareness of this extensive program, but also to sensitize tribal families to get themselves registered with NADRA thus to get benefits of the program. “The program is another milestone achieved by the KP government under the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan’s Naya Pakistan”, added Mr Wazir.
Highlighting the significance of the Sehat Sahulat Program, Dr Tanoli said, “Under this program, a medical cover of worth Rs 720,000/- per annum will be available to all the national identity card holder families of the tribal areas. Upon registration at our Beneficiary Enrolment Centres, spread all across Tribal Districts, each tribal family will get a ‘Sehat Insaf Card’ which can be used to get free medical treatment at any of the selected government and private hospitals all across Pakistan including that of tribal areas.
“During admission in a hospital the patient will not have to pay a single penny against prescribed medical treatment”, Dr Tanoli added. “We will ensure that each family gets equal treatment at any of the government and private hospitals”, he concluded.
Dispelling certain misgivings pertaining to the program, Syeda Sundas, the event moderator, said that the Sehat Insaf Card will only be used for such medical treatment under which hospital admission is mandatory. This includes pregnancy or delivery, accidental wounds, fire incidents, heart diseases, diabetes and dysfunction related to heart, liver, lungs and kidneys except transplants.
Ms Sundas clarified that no cash payment will be made to any family in case of not availing medical facilities; however, an admitted patient will be given Rs 1,000/- for three times in a year in terms of transportation. Besides this, if a patient passes away during treatment at any of the hospitals, the grieved family will be given Rs 10,000/- for post-death procedure.
While explaining the usage of the Sehat Insaf Card, Dr Khalid Masood, Director, Lady Reading Hospital said, “The registered tribal family will have to bring along Sehat Insaf Card, National Identity Card and ‘B’ Form, in case of children, to any selected hospital and show these documents to the program representative available at the reception of the designated hospital. The representative will then guide the patient to the respective department”.
The participants appreciated the provincial government and promised to create awareness within their communities regarding the Sehat Sahulat Program.
