ISLAMABAD: The federal government will restore the health card facility for over 10 million residents of Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) starting January 16, the Ministry of Health announced on Monday.
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The National Steering Committee of the Sehat Sahulat Programme (SSP), chaired by Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, approved a revised PC-I worth Rs40 billion to cover free hospitalisation services for all permanent resident families in the three regions under the Universal Health Coverage (UHC) model. The programme will run until June 30, 2027.
The committee also decided to extend existing contracts with the State Life Insurance Corporation and NADRA to ensure uninterrupted service and clear outstanding liabilities through the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP), following directives from the Prime Minister.
Speaking at the meeting, Mustafa Kamal said the government aims to adopt modern health insurance and strategic purchasing models rather than managing hospital services directly, to ensure efficiency, quality, and dignity in healthcare delivery. He confirmed that the Prime Minister will officially launch the restored services on January 16.
The suspension of services in Islamabad, AJK, and GB had left residents without access to the health card since March 2024, while residents of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) continued to benefit. KP residents can access treatment at both public and private hospitals, whereas Punjab’s programme covers only public sector facilities.
The health card initiative was first launched in Islamabad by former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on December 31, 2015, and was gradually expanded to other provinces and regions. Over the years, the programme has seen interruptions due to administrative changes and concerns over political branding, particularly during transitions between PTI and PML-N governments.
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State Life Insurance Corporation has managed the insurance aspect of the programme since its inception and will continue to do so under the extended contract until June 2027.