Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif on Thursday approved the National Health Insurance Scheme for the country’s underprivileged people.
The PM chaired a meeting to approve the launch of the scheme in principal, which will cover, in phases, about 100 million people in Pakistan.
The meeting was attended by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, PM’s Youth Program Chairperson Maryam Nawaz, Minister of State for Health Saira Afzal Tarrar and senior officers of the health and finance ministries.
Maryam, who is the architect of the scheme, gave a detailed briefing to the PM in which comparative study of major health blanket models of the European Union, United States and India and options for implementing the scheme in Pakistan, were discussed.
Speaking at the occasion, Sharif said “Health insurance program is the only way forward to provide healthcare protection to economically deprived people of the society. The scheme is the first of its kind to introduce a grievance redressing system as well as social security safety net for the poor people of Pakistan. The program will not only give the vulnerable sections of the society an access to cash-free health facilities but will also help to develop and revolutionise the health infrastructure across Pakistan.”
The PM further said that “the scheme will also enhance public-private partnership in Pakistan and will open up further avenues for investment.”
Briefing the PM, Maryam said that the scheme is designed on simple lines to ensure maximum cost efficiency.
