Punjab Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid announced here on Monday that the Cabinet has formally approved the provision of Sehat Insaf Cards to all families of the province. Speaking at Seminar on Introduction of Typhoid Conjugate Vaccine by the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, the Health Minister said that the campaign would initially start from 12 districts which are: Lahore, Rawalpindi Mianwali, Chakwal, Pakpattan, Multan, DG Khan, Layyah, Rajanpur, Mandi Bahauddin, Gujranwala and Faisalabad. Present in the event were Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Captain (Retd) Usman Younis, Director General Health Services Punjab Dr. Haroon Jehangir, representatives of WHO, Unicef and a large number of media persons. Secretary PSH Department Captain (Retd) Usman Younis apprised the participants of the rationale of vaccine introduction. Guest speakers highlighted the significance of the 15-day TCV campaign by the PSH Department. The Health Minister said, “I congratulate the Department on the launching of a great campaign. Pakistan is third country in the world to start the typhoid vaccine campaign. Through this campaign, we want to prevent child from this disease. I am grateful to the World Health Organization, Unicef and other partners for their support. The department shall set up camps and awareness centres during the campaign. Improvement in healthcare service delivery according to the vision of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar is our first priority. The department was working with 50 per cent capacity when we took over. Our government has made record hiring of 32,000 doctors, nurses and paramedical staff. In Punjab public sector hospital, Rs. 42 billion are being spent on procurement of medicines alone. In the current fiscal year, Rs. 10 billion have been allocated for bio medical equipment. During COVID-19 Pandemic, Actemra injection worth Rs. 125,000 was used for patients under treatment at government hospitals to save lives. The government spent around Rs. 14 billion on the treatment of patients during the Pandemic. Alhamdulillah, the number of infected patients is much less in Punjab than other provinces. In short span of 9 months, as many as 20 BSL3 Labs were set up. Secretary PSH Department Captain (Retd) Usman Younis played crucial role in the setting up of BSL 3 labs. With the addition of 20 BSL 3 Labs, the testing capacity of Punjab has reached 25,000 from 2000. Privision of best healthcare facilities is the first priority of the government.
Dr. Yasmin Rashid further said, “By December 2021, Punjab’s all 29.3 million families registered with NADRA shall be given Sehat Sahulat cards. In the first phase, all seven districts of Sahiwal and Dera Ghazi Khan Divisions shall be given cards. The Sehat Sahulat Card holders can avail free treatment services upto Rs. 720,000. The card holders will be able to avail free treatment facility from all empanelled hospitals all over Pakistan. For the first time in history, a government has started such a program of free healthcare for the poor. Prime Minister Imran Khan had promised improvement in health and education when he took over. For the first time in Punjab, nine new hospitals are being established. Mother and Child Hospital Ganga Ram, Nishter-2 Multan, Mother and Child Hospital Mianwali, Cardiology Hospital DG Khan are under construction. Further, five state-of-the-art hospitals, Mother and Child Hospital Attock, Bahawalnagar, Rajanpur, Layyah and Sialkot are being established. As per direction from Prime Minister Imran Khan, special emphasis is being laid on growth and health of children. Prime Minister Imran Khan wants to see this nation make progress in health and education. Education and Health Departments are jointly working for the welfare of people. I specifically thank Education Minister Murad Raas for making the School Health & Nutrition Program a success.” Secretary PSH Department Captain (Retd) Captain Usman Younis said he was thankful to the Almighty on the start of this historic campaign. He said From 1st of February to 15th February around 20 million children will be vaccinated. Children between 9 months to 15 years shall be vaccinated in the campaign. He added the campaign was extremely important to save our children from Typhoid. He expressed gratitude to stakeholders, WHO, Unicef and other partners for their support. Health Minister Dr. Yasmin Rashid has provided guidance.