Islamabad: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has launched the Prime Minister's Health Card Scheme, providing universal health coverage to the residents of Islamabad Capital Territory, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Addressing the launching ceremony in Islamabad on Friday, he stated that the government is committed to providing health facilities at the doorstep of every individual, as healthcare is a fundamental right of every citizen of Pakistan. He highlighted that around ten million people in these regions will benefit from this programme.

According to Radio Pakistan, the Prime Minister emphasized that this initiative revives the Health Card Scheme, initially launched by his leader, Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, in 2016. He noted that Nawaz Sharif's contributions to promoting this programme on a priority basis will be remembered.

Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal, speaking on the occasion, mentioned that more hospitals are being included in the programme to facilitate residents of the covered regions.

Chief Executive Officer of the Prime Minister's Health Card Programme, Arshad Kaimkhani, briefed attendees that a CNIC, and a B-Form for children, will serve as identification for availing treatment at designated hospitals. He clarified the scheme is entirely cashless, with no requirement for payment or reimbursement.

Arshad Kaimkhani further explained that the programme is designed on a third-party insurance model, allowing for every hospital admission transaction to be tracked. Currently, only hospitalization services are offered through the card, but plans are in place to include outpatient department and other healthcare services in line with the Prime Minister's vision.