Those looted national wealth get medical treatment from abroad, says PM Imran Khan

ISLAMABAD (92 News) – Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that those who looted the national wealth get medical treatment from abroad and they are unaware of the plight of the poor masses.

Addressing a ceremony held to distribute Naya Pakistan Qaumi Sehat Cards in Islamabad on Wednesday, he said that the poor moves from pillar to post for medical treatment.

APP adds:

Under the scheme, all households of Islamabad, Punjab, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan and Tharparkar will be provided free medical treatment at government and private hospitals.

Addressing on the occasion, he said the universal health coverage was available in a few countries across the world, where the government fully covered the health expenses.

He said the philosophy behind the Qaumi Sehat Card was in line with the goals of a socio-welfare State.

Also, the national security is in fact linked with the welfare of people who are made stakeholders in the interest of State, he added.

 “This will prove as a defining moment in improvement of healthcare services in Pakistan,” he said.

Imran Khan said the health card was a defining moment in encouraging private sector to join the medical network especially in rural areas and create an environment of competition for the public sector hospitals to improve their services.

He said Rs 450 billion would be spent on health insurance programme.

He mentioned that the government was establishing five mother and child hospitals in view of the high mortality rate of neonatal and pregnancy complications.

Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar said 56 hospitals had been empanelled in the province to provide medical insurance facilities in 36 districts.

He said entire population of Punjab would get medical insurance by March 31.

PM’s Special Assistant on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said the health insurance facility was being given to the citizens of the country for in-patient medical treatment for several diseases related to heart, cancer, neurological surgeries, accident, trauma and others.

He said through this card people cannot only get free treatment in government hospitals but also in private ones of their choice.

Earlier, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar briefed about the scheme and said all 36 districts of the province will be covered by the scheme by the end of March this year.