ISLAMABAD:Special Assistant on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza has said the health spending will be tripled in first two year tenure of PTI government.
Addressing a news conference in Islamabad today (Friday), he rejected the impression that the health budget has been reduced. He clarified that the revenue collected from the federal excise duty on tobacco products and frizzy drinks will also be spent on the health sector.
Zafar Mirza said that special emphasis is being given to bring improvement in the public sector hospitals. The people will see visible change in the hospitals of federal capital very soon.
The special assistant on health said that Sehat Sahulat Programme will be expanded to all districts of the country in two years’ time. At present, poor people of forty three districts are benefiting from this health insurance scheme.
He said though Sindh government has not joined this programme but we have started the health insurance scheme in Tharparkar district as per the commitment of Prime Minister Imran Khan.
Similarly, he said the scheme has been started in the tribal districts and the distribution of health cards will gain momentum in the next few months after the conduct of elections there.
He said two hundred and eighty private hospitals are on our list from where the holders of Sehat Sahulat card can get medical treatment.
Zafar Mirza said the Prime Minister Imran Khan has also decided to provide Sehat Sahulat cards to all the disabled people. He said a programme to this effect will be framed by tenth of next month and then Prime Minister Imran Khan will himself launch the programme.
He said our vision is that all people have access to this health insurance scheme and this will not remain confined to the poor segments of the society.(RP)
