PM Nawaz Sharif launches National Health Programme

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Thursday launched an ambitious PM’s National Health Programme to provide free medical treatment to the poorest of the poor at public and private hospitals.

“It is a step forward towards making Pakistan a real welfare state,” the Prime Minister said at the launching ceremony of the programme.

The programme aimed at providing quality healthcare has been launched in 15 districts and would be later expanded to23 in next phase.

Around 1.2 million card-holder families would get this facility in the first phase.

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Commerce Minister Khurram Dastagir, Minister of State for National Health Services Saira Afzal Tarar, Minister of State for Interior Baleeghur Rehman, Minister for CADD Dr. Tariq Fazal and Maryam Nawaz Sharif attended the ceremony.

The Prime Minister said the National Health Programme was fulfillment of one of the important promises of the Pakistan Muslim League’s manifesto and said the people will hear more good news in connection with better health and education facilities in the days ahead.

“We fully realize our responsibility as we believe that a healthy nation was the key to a prosperous and developed Pakistan,” Sharif said.

He said under the programme, the card holders will be able to get free medical treatment and medicines up to Rs 300,000 at the designated public and private hospitals.

However, the Prime Minister said that for those who still need treatment and were hospitalised could be provided additional funding for up to Rs 300,000 more through Pakistan Bait ul Maal.

In this regard, he directed Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to look into the matter and said if required the funding for the Pakistan Bait ul Maal would be further enhanced.