Around 300,000 residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have received free medical treatment outside the province under the Sehat Card Plus health insurance program, official records show.
Since the program’s launch in 2016, more than five million people have availed treatments worth Rs. 150 billion. The scheme provides cashless treatment and diagnostic services at 700 empaneled hospitals nationwide, accessible with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-issued national identity cards.
Of the total beneficiaries, 294,287 patients sought treatment in other provinces. Most traveled to Punjab, followed by Islamabad, Karachi, and Balochistan. A smaller number received care in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The provincial government paid Rs. 1.229 billion to hospitals outside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for these treatments. Health officials said many patients live outside the province for work, while others required procedures unavailable locally.
The Sehat Card Plus program also covers free organ transplants, including renal, liver, and cochlear procedures. Under the scheme, 235 renal, 80 liver, and 71 cochlear transplants were performed.
Currently, the program covers 11 million families, offering free treatment of up to Rs. 1 million per family per year anywhere in Pakistan. Officials said the initiative aims to improve access to quality healthcare for all residents, regardless of their location.
In other related news also read KP Increases Maximum Limit of Sehat Card
The program has significantly reduced out-of-pocket expenses for patients and enabled many to receive specialized treatment beyond Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Officials emphasized that Sehat Card Plus continues to expand its services and reach more beneficiaries nationwide.
