ISLAMABAD: Though there has been a general impression that hospitals and gynecologists encourage caesarean deliveries mainly to earn money, Minister for National Health Services (NHS) Saira Afzal Tarar on Friday announced measures to discourage the trend.

Speaking to mediapersons along with Information Minister Pervaiz Rasheed at the Press Information Department (PID), Ms Tarar said under the Prime Minister’s National Health Programme the charges for the caesarean and normal deliveries would be the same.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday launched the programme and described it as the first step towards making Pakistan a welfare state. The initiative has been launched in Islamabad and would soon be extended to all parts of Punjab, Balochistan, AJK and Fata.

In the first phase, the scheme will be launched in 15 districts to provide free healthcare facilities to around 1.2 million families.

Ms Tarar said complaints were received that gynecologists opted for caesarean deliveries though in most of the cases it was not required.

“We have increased the charges of normal delivery and now Rs20,000 will be paid for both the normal and caesarean deliveries,” she said.

Initially, it was suggested that Rs12,500 would be paid to hospitals for a normal and Rs20,000 for a caesarean delivery.

In reply to questions, Ms Tarar said Rs20,000 would be sufficient for the hospitals because a large number of patients would be admitted under the programme.

“Moreover, eight hospitals will be on the panel in Islamabad under the programme, so the patients will have the option to go to any of the facilities.”

The hospitals are: Rawal Medical College, Begum Jan Hospital, Life Care Hospital, Al Nafees Hospital, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims), Shifa Hospital, Rawal Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi, and Al Nusrat Hospital.

“In case of any problem, the patients can get information by sending SMS to 8500 or by calling at the toll free 0800-09009. The National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) has established a call centre where 100 officials will be available to resolve problems of the citizens.” She said 10 patients availed of treatment from different hospitals under the programme on Friday.

She also invited the governments of Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to join the programme, claiming that there was a provision in the PC-1 that both the provinces can join the scheme any time.

It may be noted that people of Sindh and KP will not be covered under the initiative because their governments have declined to become part of the programme.

The information minister said by launching the health programme the PML-N government had fulfilled yet another promise mentioned in its manifesto to provide healthcare facilities to the citizens living below the poverty line.

“We promised in the manifesto that deserving people will get free treatment up to Rs150,000 but now the amount has been increased to Rs300,000 and in case of an emergency can be extended to Rs600,000.

“Our focus is on healthcare and education and soon people will feel the result of the steps which have been taken during the last two years,” he said.

First patient Mubashir Ali, 15, a student of Islamabad Model School, G-11/2, could not get proper treatment for his chronic headache for three years due to the financial crunch. However, now he has been admitted to a hospital under the health programme.

Mohammad Khan, the patient’s father who works as a driver in a house, told Dawn that due to the frequent severe headache his son failed in his exams for two consecutive years.

“I never got resources to admit him to a private hospital as government hospitals usually give him medicine and send him home,” he said.

“As I knew that the scheme will be launched from Jan 1, I took my son to the Life Care Hospital in Sector G-10 where he was admitted,” he said.

“Doctors have checked him many times and also suggested tests. I believe that now I will be able to know that is the problem with my son,” he said.

Published in Dawn, January 2nd, 2016