The federal government has decided to restore the Sehat Sahulat health card facility for more than 10 million residents of Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan, ending months of uncertainty for families dependent on subsidized healthcare services.
The decision was approved by the National Steering Committee of the Sehat Sahulat Programme, chaired by Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, which endorsed a revised PC-I with an estimated cost of Rs40 billion to revive and sustain the scheme.
With the approval granted, health card services are set to resume from January 16, while the revised PC-I will remain valid until June 30, 2027, ensuring continuity of coverage for eligible permanent resident families across the three regions.
The meeting was attended by Federal Health Secretary Hamid Yaqoob Sheikh, Special Secretary Health, Sehat Sahulat Programme CEO Arshad Khan, and other senior officials who reviewed progress on restoring Universal Health Coverage as directed by the prime minister.
The committee also approved extending existing contracts with State Life Insurance Corporation and NADRA through addenda, while outstanding financial liabilities will be cleared through the Public Sector Development Programme to avoid future service disruptions.
Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said modern health insurance and strategic purchasing models are essential for efficiency, confirming the prime minister will formally relaunch the facility on January 16 after its suspension in March 2024.
Also read: Sehat Sahulat Card To Become Permanent Federal Health Scheme
