Prime Minister National Health Program
All about Pakistan National Health Program, the first national health insurance program launched by Prime Minister of Pakistan Nawaz Sharif. Find all details along with benefits of the program, cost & ther important information. A complete guide of Prime Minister Health Program Pakistan updated and tracked continually.
On Dec 31, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has launched a health insurance program, the first of its kind in Pakistan, for providing free medical treatment to the deserving people.
Launching of health insurance program is fulfillment of another promise by PML-N Government: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif
Coverage under Health Program
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Program Name | Pakistan National Health Program |
| Year Initiated | 2016 |
| Objective | To provide free healthcare services to underprivileged and low-income families in Pakistan. |
| Target Population | Families earning below the poverty line (earning less than Rs. 200 per day). |
| Services Covered | Free treatment for serious illnesses including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, etc. |
| Initial Coverage | Initially launched in Islamabad, Punjab, and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) provinces. |
| Funding | Fully funded by the Government of Pakistan. |
| Implementation Agency | Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination (NHSRC). |
| Health Card | Beneficiaries received a health card that provided access to partner hospitals for free treatment. |
| Panel Hospitals | Partnered with public and private hospitals to deliver healthcare services. |
| Budget Allocation | PKR 9 billion allocated initially for the program. |
| Eligibility Criteria | Families verified through the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) database. |
| Key Features | – Cashless healthcare services- Coverage of secondary and tertiary healthcare. |
| Expansion Plan | Planned expansion to other provinces including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh. |
| Program Challenges | – Limited outreach in rural areas- High demand exceeding capacity of partner hospitals. |
| Impact | Helped thousands of underprivileged families access lifesaving medical treatments. |
The program offers free of cost treatment for ailments such as cardiovascular diseases, Diabetes Mellitus, Burma and RTA (life and limb saving treatment, implants, prosthesis). It will also cover end-stage renal diseases and dialysis, chronic infections (Hepatitis), organ failure (Hepatic, Renal, Cardiopulmonary) and cancer treatment (Chemo, Radio and Surgery).
Around 63,000 people will be issued health cards through 300 centres in Islamabad and Lahore which have initially been established for the distribution of health cards. Every card holder will be able to avail health facilities worth Rs0.3 million per year; however, in case of exceeding the card limit the patient will be provide financial assistance by Baitul Mal.
Launching Phase
Initially the programme is being started in fifteen districts of the country. Under the programme health care cards will be issued to the beneficiaries on which they will get free medical treatment of seven diseases. 1.2 million card holder families will get this facility in the first phase. Nine billion rupees have been allocated and the health facility will be for every citizen of Pakistan who has less than two hundred rupees daily earning.
In the first phase the programme will provide free of cost access to hospital/indoor care to 3.1 million families. This will be spread across to families in 23 districts of Pakistan living below the poverty line both for 7 priority and secondary diseases. The districts included in this programme are Narowal, Khanewal, Sargodha, Rahim Yar Khan, Sheikhupura, Badin, Shaheed Benazirabad, Sanghar, Mardan, Malakand, Kohat and Chitral. In addition Quetta, Loralai, Lesbela, Kech, Muzaffarabad, Kotli, Diamer, Skardu, Bajaur Agency, Khyber Agency and ICT are also included.
