The much-awaited and hyped Naya Pakistan health card has been launched by Prime Minister Imran Khan in Punjab. It was termed as a defining moment and a huge step towards the creation of a welfare state like the historical welfare state of Madina. According to the details provided by the premier at Governor House in Lahore, the ‘Naya Pakistan Sehat Card’ would be handed out to the 30 million families to avail health insurance for 115 million people across Punjab. The families are allowed to spend Rs1 million at both private and government-designated hospitals in order to receive quality healthcare services. The process of delivering these health cards to all the selected families will be completed by March as per the prime minister. He added that his government will inject Rs440 billion into this health insurance scheme in a span of three years and that this plan is not limited to health insurance, but it will also allow the private sector to build and run hospitals in far off areas where doctors do not prefer going.
In a country like Pakistan where over 5.4% of the population is below the poverty line and many more near it, such initiatives are extremely important. These people have poor living conditions and do not afford any medical treatment. Therefore, with this card, they will be able to get proper treatment in both government and private hospitals depending on where the required health services are available. Moreover, the card ensures proper maternity care and service. Pakistan has the third-highest burden of maternal and children mortality across the globe and this is due to the lack of provision of adequate and timely health services for both the mother and the baby. This card will ensure that such problems are reduced among other things.
Although the initiative is revolutionary like other initiatives started by the PTI government, it is yet to be seen whether it will follow through or not. In a country like Pakistan where even PTI, the one party which came into power on the pretext of eradicating corruption, could not eradicate or even reduce it, many people might use this card to their advantage even if they are not eligible for it. The government will have to keep a close check so that such misuse is avoided. If the system established runs smoothly, many families will benefit.
