ISLAMABAD: While Covid-19 pandemic has affected Pakistan’s health system, the government is hopeful that the Sehat Sahulat Programme and the expansion to the universal health coverage will address health-related issues as soon 100 per cent population of Islamabad, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and AJK will get the facility.

In relation to financing for more initiatives, dialogue with donors is progressing which will provide additional funds over the next five years for the provision of essential health services at the community and primary healthcare level.

On the other hand, residents of the federal capital, who have permanent addresses of Sindh and Balochistan on their computerised national identity cards (CNICs), have been suggested to provide proof of their property in the capital to the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and change their permanent address to become eligible for the facility.

According to a recent impact assessment carried out by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the pandemic has badly affected Pakistan’s health system. One of the main recommendations to the government made by the assessment was making essential health services available to those in need and protecting health systems.

The Sehat Sahulat Programme is a public sector funded social health protection initiative of the federal and participating provincial and regional governments. This programme is working to provide financial health protection to those living below the poverty line (based on the criterion of $2 per day per capita) against catastrophic health care expenditure.

The programme provides access to free of cost indoor healthcare services to enrolled families from empanelled hospitals. Under the programme, services are provided through Qaumi Sehat Cards. This programme supports hospitalisation and chronic disease care. It is a cashless scheme and beneficiaries only require the card to avail services.

A total of 13.26 million families were enrolled till the end of 2021 and more than 800,000 beneficiaries have availed services from over 600 empaneled hospitals, including private hospitals across Pakistan.

However, as Sindh and Balochistan have not adopted the programme, a large number of people whose parents, in some cases grandparents, came to Islamabad in 1960s are still considered aliens in the city as they have permanent addresses of Sindh and Balochistan mentioned on their CNICs.

Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) spokesperson Sajid Shah said health cards were being issued considering the permanent addresses mentioned on the CNICs.

“Those who own property in Islamabad can get their permanent addresses changed by showing the proof of their property to Nadra. We suggest them to get their addresses changed to become eligible for the health cards,” he said.

He said only half of the population in Pakistan had access to essential health services.

“In relation to financing for more initiative, dialogue with donors like the World Bank, Global Financing Facility, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, GAVI, the Global Fund, and others are progressing in a positive manner, which will provide additional funding over the next five years for the provision of essential health services at the community and primary health care center level,” he said.

“This initiative is just the beginning of the reform process and we have to move forward towards the implementation of the Universal Health Coverage Benefit Package in a more coordinated and effective manner while developing stronger partnerships. Pakistan is committed to prioritising the health sector to ensure that no one is left behind,” Mr Shah said.

Published in Dawn, January 18th, 2022