News
Nawaz announces free treatment of 3.2m poor families
By Muhammad Saleh ZaafirNational Health Programme
Patients suffering from serious diseases to get Rs0.3m; Baitul Mal to provide additional money up to Rs0.6m if necessary; those who earn daily wages of less than Rs200 qualify for programme; funds also allocated for KP and Sindh; PM says he rejected Ogra’s summary recommending hike in petrol price; prices of diesel and kerosene to be reduced considerably
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif on Thursday launched a gigantic national health programme for the provision of free medical treatment to 3.2 million poor families in the country.
With this, Pakistan has become the first country in South Asia where the downtrodden have been ensured free treatment for seven chronic and common diseases at both public and private hospitals.
Addressing a function at the Pak-China Friendship Centre in the lap of the picturesque Shakarparian hills, Nawaz announced that free treatment will be provided to patients suffering from seven serious diseases like diabetes, cancer and liver impairment.
Three hundred thousand rupees will be provided to each patient suffering from a potentially fatal disease; however, the Baitul Mal will provide additional money if necessary for treatment up to Rs600,000.
Maryam Nawaz Sharif was also present on the occasion and is believed to be the brains behind the scheme. Prime Minister Nawaz said the programme was a step towards the fulfillment of the PML-N’s promise to establish a welfare state.
He said that it was the duty of the government to provide the best medical care to poor people and this programme was just a step further towards executing that responsibility.
“We have no option but to make this programme a success, as there should not be any politics involved in health-related initiatives.”
The prime minister invited all the provincial governments to be a part of the national level initiative for the provision of better medical treatment to the impoverished population across the country.
He said the government would provide the latest technical equipment not only to the public, but also to private hospitals to aid this programme. He asked the Minister of State for Health Ms. Saira Afzal Tarrar to keep monitoring the progress of services being provided to the people through the health programme.
The prime minister said the poor will not have to sell their belongings and household items to get treatment and purchase medicines.
He warned that serious action will be taken against those who tried to hinder the implementation of the programme or misuse it.
He said the government was giving priority to social sectors like education and health and will take all provincial governments along to provide maximum facilities to the poor.
He said the programme was being launched in 15 districts at the initial stage and will be expanded to 23 districts later on.
He said the programme will be implemented in phases to ensure health insurance to the poor of the entire country.
Nawaz also turned down a summary of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) recommending an increase in the price of petrol by Rs2 from today (Friday). The prices of petrol will be unchanged until next month.
Amid thunderous applause, Nawaz announced that he had rejected the Orga summary about the increase in the price of petrol. He also informed the gathering that the prices of diesel and kerosene will be reduced considerably.
Speaking on the occasion, Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar said funds for the assistance of deserving people had been increased to Rs95 billion from Rs30 billion.
Ms. Saira Afzal Tarrar said that the public-private programme will provide free health facilities to the poor segment of society. Tarar said those who earn daily wages of less than Rs200 qualify for the programme and that treatment would be provided without discrimination “whatever your religion, sect or province”.
The health minister said the prime minister’s card allows Rs50,000 for the treatment of common illnesses “such as the flu, cough and hepatitis”, and sets aside Rs300,000 for more serious conditions like “angioplasty, bypass and dialysis”.
The programme will be started in Muzaffarabad next week. The provinces of KP and Sindh have not shown interest in the insurance programme, but the government has allocated funds for them and they can join any time.
The prime minister was given a detailed briefing about the programme.
Earlier Ms. Saira Afzal Tarar briefed the prime minister on the services and benefits of the programme and said the scheme offers free of cost treatment for ailments such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and RTA (life and limb saving treatment, implants, prosthesis).
It will also cover end-stage renal diseases and dialysis, chronic infections (hepatitis), organ failure (hepatic, renal, cardiopulmonary) and cancer treatment (chemo, radio and surgery).
The prime minister was informed that around 63,000 people will be issued health cards through 300 centers in Islamabad and Lahore which have initially been established for the distribution of the cards.
The prime minister had approved the programme in June last year. Provision of Rs1 billion was included in the budget for launching the scheme on a pilot basis which will then be replicated in a large number of districts.
The districts included in this programme are Narowal, Khanewal, Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, Sheikhupura, Badin, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Mardan, Malakand, Kohat and Chitral. In addition Quetta, Loralai, Lesbela, Kech, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Diamer, Skardu, Bajaur Agency, Khyber Agency and ICT are also included.
Courtesy www.thenews.com.pk
