PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has yet to implement its decision to provide Rs500,000 to Rs1 million to families whose heads die in hospitals during treatment under the Sehat Card Plus (SCP) health insurance programme.
Read More: KP government releases Rs3 billion for health card program
Officials said the scheme was approved by the cabinet, but the formal agreement is still being vetted before disbursing compensation. The plan proposes Rs1 million for deceased individuals under 60 years and half of the amount for those above 60 years.
Since 2016, the SCP programme has provided free treatment to more than five million people from 11 million families, costing the government Rs130 billion. The new compensation initiative aims to further strengthen the programme and benefit relatives of patients who die during hospital treatment.
The government has pledged Rs4.5 billion for the initiative, with mechanisms being devised to distribute the amount among heirs, specifying shares for spouses, sons, and daughters. Bereaved families will need a certificate from the National Database and a hospital-issued death certificate confirming the deceased as the head of the family.
The programme will be implemented through the State Life Insurance Corporation, which already manages the free treatment scheme, pending final notification. Officials noted that the move could also encourage more hospitalisations under SCP, ensuring that patients, including the elderly, receive timely care.
Additionally, a free OPD service scheme launched in July covers four districts — Mardan, Malakand, Kohat, and Chitral — benefiting 120,000 families per district with Rs2 billion in support from Germany. SCP has significantly expanded access to healthcare, particularly among women and younger age groups, allowing them to seek treatment in both private and public hospitals without personal expenses.
Read More: KP government releases Rs3 billion for health card program
Officials said the compensation plan would improve quality of life for elderly patients, encourage timely hospital visits, and provide financial support to bereaved families, further consolidating the state-run health insurance programme.