Advisor to Chief Minster Punjab on Health Kh. Salman Rafique has said that Prime Minister’s National Health Insurance Programme would be formally launched in Punjab by the end of this month for which all arrangements have been finalized. He said that in first phase four districts i.e. Rahim Yar Khan, Narowal, Khanewal and Sargodha are included in the Health Insurance Scheme.
He stated this while chairing a high level meeting along with State Minister for Health Saira Afzal Tarar to review the arrangements of launching the health insurance programme, at Civil Secretariat, here today. The officers of Ministry of Health from Islamabad, Secretary Specialized Healthcare & Medical Education Punjab Najam Ahmed Shah, Special Secretary Health Dr. Sajid Mahmood Chauhan, CEO Punjab Health Initiative Management Company Dr. Saira Siddique and other concerned officers attended the meeting. During the meeting the launching plan of the insurance scheme in Punjab was finalized. It was briefed by the CEO PHIMC that the insurance cards distribution in Rahim Yar Khan has started. The scheme will be officially inaugurated by the end of September in Rahim Yar Khan and within 2 months in the remaining districts the distribution of cards would be completed. Kh. Salman Rafique said that in the four nominated districts 1.3 million families would get free medical facilities under Health Insurance Programme. He said that Punjab government has allocated Rs.1.5 billion for the scheme which would be spent through Prime Minister’s National Health Insurance Programme. He said that districts monitoring officers would be recruited to monitor the whole system. He said that in next phase four more districts would be included in Health Insurance Programme including Lahore and Faisalabad. Kh. Salman Rafique revealed that Punjab government is planning to provide health cover to all the poor population of the 36 districts of Punjab in coming years.