Pakistan PM Health Card Launched

Islamabad, January 16 (Nazrana Times)
 

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday formally launched the Prime Minister Health Card Program for residents of Islamabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan, reaffirming that protecting and supporting vulnerable segments of society is the fundamental responsibility of the state.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the Prime Minister said the Health Card Program reflects the government’s continued commitment to public welfare. He stressed that access to healthcare is a basic right of citizens and that the state must ensure free medical treatment for underprivileged people at their doorsteps. Federal ministers, members of the National Assembly, and senior officials attended the ceremony.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recalled that the Health Card initiative was originally launched in 2016 by former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and later expanded across the country, benefiting millions of families. He emphasized that health is the most valuable asset in life, enabling people to pursue education, sports, and economic activities with dignity.

The Prime Minister announced that the program is now being extended to the residents of Islamabad, AJK, and Gilgit-Baltistan, and congratulated Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal, the Health Secretary, and their teams on this achievement. He underlined the need for transparency through third-party oversight to ensure the effective implementation of the scheme.
He further stated that the proposal to introduce the Health Card Program in Sindh is under consideration and consultations would be held with the Chief Minister of Sindh. He added that healthcare programs are already operational in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, while the Health Card Program is being successfully implemented in Punjab with significant financial investment.
Speaking on the occasion, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said that health is a basic right of every citizen and that over 10 million people in Islamabad, AJK, and Gilgit-Baltistan will benefit from the program. He said that 70 hospitals in these regions have been included in the scheme.
Prime Minister Health Card Program CEO Muhammad Arshad Qaimkhani described the initiative as a historic step toward universal health coverage, stating that cashless medical treatment will be available at more than 600 public and private hospitals across Pakistan. He added that national identity cards and children’s B-Forms will serve as health cards, ensuring free healthcare access from Gilgit to Gwadar.
On the occasion, the Prime Minister also distributed Prime Minister Health Cards among residents of Islamabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.