Sehat Card holders to bear 40% of treatment costs

LAHORE: In a significant policy shift, the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company has introduced changes to the Sehat Health Card programme, bringing unwelcome news for those reliant on the health card for treatment.

According to the new policy, patients will now bear 40 per cent of the costs associated with free treatment on the Sehat Card.

Under the revised policy, private hospitals have been instructed to collect 40 per cent of expenses directly from health card holders, marking a departure from the previous arrangement. This 40 per cent cost initiative is set to take effect from November 15.

It is noteworthy that patients were originally shouldering 30 per cent of the treatment costs on the health card, a figure that has now been increased to 40 per cent with the implementation of the new policy.

Qaumi Sehat Card system to be implemented across the board, says Health Minister

Last month, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had allocated Rs2 billion for the Sehat Card programme, leading to the restoration of the free treatment facility in the province.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Advisor Dr Riaz Anwar had explained that the hiatus in health card services was caused by insufficient funds, but with the release of Rs2 billion, it has reinstated the provision of free treatment on Sehat Card.

Dr Anwar had further emphasized the need for hospitals to prioritize patient care over new construction projects, citing a ban on certain developmental works in MTI hospitals.

Earlier, the State Life Insurance Company had issued a letter to panel hospitals instructing a temporary halt in the admission of new patients from October 19. However, health desks for Sehat Card Plus will remain operational for those who make payments, and pending cases will continue to be addressed.