PESHAWAR, Apr 08 (APP):Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Wednesday directed the authorities to expand facilities under the Sehat Card Programme and ensure wider access to quality healthcare for citizens across the province.
Governor for expansion of Sehat Card facilities in rural areas
PESHAWAR, Apr 08 (APP):Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi on Wednesday directed the authorities to expand facilities under the Sehat Card Programme and ensure wider access to quality healthcare for citizens across the province.
The Governor was given a detailed briefing on the Sehat Card and Health Protection Programme by Coordinator Riaz Tanoli and State Life Zonal Head Health Insurance Zaman Khan.
The briefing informed that around 10.8 million families are registered under the programme in the province, benefiting approximately 34 million individuals. According to NADRA records, permanent residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa across the country are entitled to avail these medical facilities.
Officials further stated that up to Rs35 billion are being spent annually on treatment under the programme.
The Governor was told that the cost of kidney transplant at Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences stands at Rs1.9 million, while liver transplant costs around Rs6.3 million. It was proposed that coordination with Gambat be initiated to extend these facilities to KP residents, on which the Governor directed immediate action.
Faisal Karim Kundi also instructed that major hospitals in Sindh, particularly in Karachi, be included in the Sehat Card panel to facilitate over one million KP residents living there, especially for treatment of critical diseases.
Expressing concern over inadequate healthcare facilities at the tehsil level in Dera Ismail Khan, the Governor said that shortage of specialist doctors in hospitals such as THQ Paharpur, Parova, Daraban and Kulachi of Dera Ismail Khan was hindering people from fully benefiting from the programme. He directed immediate deployment of specialists in these hospitals.
The Governor also ordered provision of cochlear implant facilities in Dera Ismail Khan to ensure local treatment for hearing-impaired patients. He reiterated that the government was committed to ensuring timely and quality healthcare services for the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
