Sehat Insaf Card: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa becomes Pakistan's Only Province with Universal Healthcare
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has achieved a significant milestone by implementing the Sehat Sahulat Program (SSP) and Sehat Card Plus (SCP) program, providing health insurance and universal healthcare coverage to all permanent residents of the province. Millions of families, especially those in difficult financial situations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa now recieve treatments for up to Rs. 1,000,000 annually without paying a single rupee. Any person who cannot afford a surgery or treatment, especially in dire circumstances are covered by health insurance and free treatments in KP. This makes Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the only province to posses universal healthcare coverage, a feat praised internationally, with over 4.8 million people covered by this program.
History and Coverage
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government initiated the Sehat Insaf Card (Also called Sehat Sahulat Program (SSP) or Sehat ka Insaf) in December 2015 as an unprecedented healthcare initiative focusing on emergency hospitalization while also focusing on surgeries, cardiac and cardiovascular treatements. The objective of the SSP was to provide healthcare to more than 4 million residents in all 35 districts of the KP province. Under this program, resident can avail the treatment of up to Rs. 1 million (approx. $6000) per family per year in more than 400 public and private sectors of the KP representing about 25% of the health facilities in the province. In 2022, the PTI government began providing completely free-of-cost healthcare to the ex-FATA tribal areas and tribal peoples, helping Pakistan's tribal areas recieve healthcare.
The PTI government implemented the Sehat Insaf Card project in KP in August 2020 to provide free healthcare services to the public under Prime Minister Imran Khan. Under the scheme, every family is entitled to treatment amounting to Rs 1 million. Initially, the scheme covered only three percent of the population. Under the Sehat Insaf Card, Rs 200,000 are allotted for basic treatment, Rs 400,000 for advance treatment and Rs 400,000 for major surgeries. The basic plan covers hospital admissions including childbirth, general surgeries, diabetes and other illnesses. On the other hand, advance treatment covers kidney and cardiovascular illnesses, angioplasty and open heart surgery. KP residents are entitled to get these treatments any of the empaneled hospitals. In addition to this, transplant and cancer treatment is also covered under the health card. Currently, health card covers over 4.8 million people of the province and KP government has also provided legal protection through an act of assembly.
It was launched on a provincial basis in December 2015 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, then launched nationwide by Prime Minister Imran Khan in February 2019, and was succesfully fully implemented in 2020 and 2021. Punjab's Naya Pakistan Qaumi Sehat Card was launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan and Chief Minister Usman Buzdar in 2022 as well, but was later shut down by PMLN. However in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa it was expanded under PTI's new government, increasing coverage and introducing OPD services.
Key Features
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Financial Coverage: Each family is entitled to free medical treatment up to PKR 1,000,000 per year.
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Network of Hospitals: The program has empaneled over 400 public and private hospitals, ensuring widespread accessibility to healthcare services.
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Comprehensive Services: The Sehat Card Plus covers a wide range of medical services, including hospitalizations, surgeries, and treatments for chronic diseases such as cancer and cardiovascular ailments.
This initiative has significantly reduced the financial burden of healthcare on families, improved access to quality medical services, and contributed to better health outcomes across the province.
Sources and Further Reading
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9223125/
https://www.dawn.com/news/1699079
https://tnnenglish.com/five-pti-achievements-in-kp
https://gulfnews.com/opinion/op-eds/naya-pakistan-sehat-card-saving-lives-1.1640603408904