PESHAWAR: Chief Minister Pervez Khattak launched the distribution of health insurance cards named Sehat Insaf Cards to the deserving people here on Monday.

The cardholders will avail themselves of free treatment at all government health centres and selected private facilities under the government`s social health protection scheme (Sehat Sahulat Programme).

Chief Minister Pervez Khattaklaunched the card distribution during a special ceremony here by giving away cards to a couple of deserving families.

Under the social health protection schemes, health insurance cards will be issued to more than 1.8 million households across the province, said a statement issued here.

As many as eight members of per house hold will be entitled for free medical treatment, and thus 1.4 million individuals of the province will be covered under the program.

Initially, the programme waslaunchedinfour selected districts including Kohat, Mardan, Malakand and Chitral with the financial assistance of the German government. Now, it has been extended to the entire province after inclusion in the Annual Development Programme.

The free treatment covered in the scheme includes hospital services normally provided at secondary and tertiary level facilities such as medicines, general surgery, gynaecology and obstetric, ophthalmology, accident and emergency treatment and ENT services, whereas some more dis-eases will also be covered under the scheme af terwards.

The free facilities under the scheme will be available at designated hospitals of both public and private sectors.

More than half of the population of the province will directly benefit from the scheme.

This two years scheme will cost Rs5 billion, which will be regularised by the provincial government through proper legislation.

Addressing the ceremony as the chief guest, the CM said the schemed was a public f riendly and a revolutionary step and that pro-vision of free and quality healthcare service to the people was the top most priority of his government.

`The Sehat Sahulat Programme is an effective step towards that end,` he said.

Mr. Khattak said the Sehat Insaf Cards would be issued to only deserving families under a pre-defined criteria without any political affiliation or consideration.

He praised the health department for making the scheme a reality in a very short span of time.