QUETTA: The Balochistan government has released Rs2.25 billion for the Balochistan Health Card Programme to provide free medical treatment to poor and deserving patients at major hospitals across all four provinces.
The programme was launched last year to offer free healthcare to low-income families. However, it recently faced serious problems after unpaid dues of Rs5 billion built up with State Life Insurance.
Due to this, several private hospitals in Karachi stopped treating patients under the Balochistan Health Card Programme.
After reports appeared in newspapers, Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti took notice of the issue and ordered the immediate release of funds. Following his directions, the provincial finance department released Rs2.25 billion for the programme.
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Officials said that despite this release, the programme still has outstanding dues of Rs2.75 billion payable to State Life Insurance.
Sources in the provincial health department said they hope the remaining amount will be released soon on the chief minister’s orders.
They added that timely payment of funds is necessary to fully restore and continue uninterrupted medical treatment for poor patients under the Balochistan Health Card Programme.
