In a significant development, the Punjab government has unveiled a new policy aimed at providing healthcare benefits to government employees through the Sehat Insaf Card, also known as the health card. Under this policy, a nominal premium will be deducted from the salaries of government employees in exchange for access to these healthcare facilities.
Starting immediately, government employees can enjoy the benefits of the health card by paying a modest annual premium of Rs 4,350 or just Rs 362 per month. This premium deduction ensures that only those government employees who actively participate in the program will be eligible to access the extensive healthcare services offered through the health card.
The Punjab Health Department has officially communicated this policy to the finance department, emphasizing that the government will not bear the premium expenses on behalf of government employees. Instead, the premium payments will be directed to the State Life Insurance Company. This ensures that only employees who contribute to the premium will enjoy the comprehensive healthcare services provided by the health card.
KPK Health Card Services
This development follows a recent decision by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) caretaker government, which, under the leadership of caretaker Chief Minister Muhammad Azam Khan, reevaluated the scope of free healthcare services available through the Health Card scheme.
Riaz Anwar, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Health, stated that the full benefits of the program will now be exclusively reserved for beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP). This shift in focus is in response to the rising expenses associated with the initiative, which had increased from Rs 30 billion to Rs 39 billion. At one point, there was even a proposal to terminate the program altogether.
However, the cabinet approved a series of reforms to ensure the sustainability of the Health Card initiative. Under these reforms, individuals with an annual income of up to Rs37,000 will be required to cover 25% of their medical expenses. This contribution will be collected using data obtained from the BISP, ensuring that those with higher incomes contribute to their healthcare costs.
Notably, the reforms aim to protect the poor and underprivileged, who will continue to receive free healthcare services. Additionally, emergency ward facilities will remain accessible to all, regardless of income levels.
Importantly, it was clarified that the Health Card program itself will not be discontinued. Instead, it will continue to serve the underprivileged, ensuring access to quality healthcare for those who need it most.
This new policy in Punjab marks a significant step toward ensuring healthcare access for government employees while also making the Health Card program more sustainable for the broader population.
