PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi on Thursday directed the authorities to introduce pragmatic reforms to improve the effectiveness, coverage and long-term sustainability of the Sehat Card Plus programme.
He was speaking at a meeting on the Sehat Card Plus programme, which reviewed various proposals to improve its coverage, service delivery, governance and financial sustainability.
He said health and education were the provincial government’s foremost priorities and directed the relevant authorities to ensure timely disposal and implementation of all matters relating to the two sectors.
The meeting considered a proposal to bring Basic Health Units (BHUs), Rural Health Centres (RHCs) and Category-D hospitals operating round the clock under the Sehat Card Plus programme.
Proposals to expand coverage for high-cost treatments and introduce a phased increase in service rates were also discussed.
The chief minister stressed the need to prevent misuse of the Sehat Card facility and directed that empanelled hospitals be required to comply with a clearly defined code of conduct.
He called for greater transparency, accountability, service quality and financial discipline across the programme.
“The Sehat Card Plus is a major public service and must be managed in a manner that delivers greater value and better outcomes for the people,” Afridi said, directing the authorities to take concrete measures to improve its efficiency and effectiveness.
He said the ongoing revamping of Basic Health Centres and District Headquarters Hospitals was aimed at bringing quality healthcare closer to communities and ensuring access to essential health services at people’s doorsteps.
“The provincial government is allocating substantial resources to improve healthcare delivery; these resources must translate into efficient service delivery and tangible outcomes for the public,” he went on to add.
The meeting also agreed on the need to enhance the institutional capacity of the Social Health Protection Unit. A proposal to introduce an optional top-up health package for government employees under the Sehat Card framework was also considered. The chief minister said that, in line with the vision of Imran Khan, health and education were at the top of the provincial government’s policy agenda.
“We will move forward with a practical, results-oriented strategy. Our ultimate objective is to ensure the provision of the best possible healthcare services to the people,” he said.
Afridi directed the authorities to prepare a comprehensive action plan on the proposed reforms and interventions through mutual consultation and submit it for consideration. He announced that the matter would be reviewed again at a follow-up meeting next week, when the proposals would be finalised and a clear and implementable roadmap for further strengthening the Sehat Card Plus programme would be prepared.
