PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Mohammad Sohail Afridi has said that Sehat Card Plus is a major public welfare programme and its improvement, effectiveness and long-term sustainability necessitate pragmatic, workable reforms and measures to ensure that people are able to derive its full and intended benefits.
He was chairing a meeting that reviewed several proposals to strengthen Sehat Card Plus (SCP) programme’s coverage, service delivery, governance and financial sustainability, according to a statement.
A proposal was put forward to the meeting to make primary healthcare facilities including basic health units (BHUs), rural health centres (RHCs), and Category-D hospitals operational round the clock throughout the week under the umbrella of SCP.
The meeting agreed on the need to enhance the institutional capacity of the social health protection unit. A proposal to introduce an optional top-up health package for government employees under SCP was also considered.
Proposals to expand coverage for high-cost treatments and introduce a phased increase in service rates were also reviewed in the meeting.
During the meeting, the chief minister stated that SCP was a major public welfare facility. He said that improvement, effectiveness and long-term sustainability of the programme necessitated pragmatic, workable reforms and measures to ensure that people were able to derive its full and intended benefits.
Declaring health and education as top priorities of provincial government, Mr Afridi directed relevant authorities to ensure timely disposal and implementation of all matters and initiatives pertaining to those sectors,makingit clear that there would be no room for delay or impediment in that regard.
He said that misuse of SCP facility must be prevented. He said that empanelled hospitals would be required to comply with a clearly defined code of conduct. He stressed the need for strengthening transparency, accountability, service quality and financial disciplineacrosstheprogramme.
‘Sehat Card Plus is a major public service and must be managed in a manner that delivers greater value and better outcomes for the people,’ said the chief minister.
He said that the ongoing revamping of DHQs and BHUs was aimed at bringing quality healthcare closer to communities and ensuring that people had access to essential health services at their doorsteps.
Bureau Report