Circle of information and awareness about Health Card Programme be expanded further, directs CT CM

QUETTA (6AM Report): The caretaker Chief Minister Balochistan, Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki has directed to the concerned authorities to expand circle of information, awareness and consciousness about the Health Card Programme (HCP) so that every individual of the province is aware about the resources allocated for one and benefit from the vital programme.

The caretaker Chief Minister was chairing a meeting held to review the Balochistan Health Card Programme here on Monday.

Those who were in attendance at the meeting were included the caretaker Provincial Minister for Health, Dr. Amir Muhammad Khan Jogezai, Chief Secretary, Shakeel Qadir Khan, Principal Secretary to Chief Minister, Rashid Razzaq, Secretary Health, Abdullah Khan, Chief Executive Officer of Health Card Programme, Asadullah Kakar, Secretary Finance, Babar Khan, Chairman Balochistan Revenue Authority, Noorul Haq Baloch.

The meeting reviewed the overall performance of the Health Card Programme besides the issues and hardships being faced by it.

The CEO of Health Card Programme briefed in detail the meeting about the three months performance after its launch besides the challenges being faced in smooth implementation of the programme.

Expressing his views on the occasion, the caretaker Chief Minister said that Health Card Programme is such a historic programme of the province’s history under which every poor and rich person has the quality healthcare and treatment facilities at some 1200 hospitals located in all over the country including Balochistan.

As it is the first programme of its nature, so the common men don’t know about its benefits much, he pointed out.

The caretaker Chief Minister observed that although some issues are being faced in the programme at administrative level, however, we are confident that there would be improvement in it in future after removing obstacles.

He also believed that the people would benefit from the programme speedily.

He noted with contentment that a total of 28,185 patients have so far benefitted from the Health Card Programme during last three months.

In Quetta, the highest number of cardiac patients benefitted from the facility, he added.

The Chief Minister on the occasion directed to open official assignment accounts for payments to the Insurance company, NADRA and the hospitals which are on panel of the Programme so as to ensure timely payment to them and continue the provision of quality medical services to the patients.

Meanwhile, during the briefing, it was informed that most of the patients approached the private hospital in Hub area and benefitted from the programme in a big way.

It was also informed that digital supervision and monitoring system has been established for bringing transparency in Health Card Programme.

No other can misuse funds allocated for one under the Health Card Programme, it was also informed.