PM’s National Health Insurance Programme to be launched in Punjab by Sep end: Kh Salman

Adviser to Punjab Chief Minster on Health Khawaja Salman Rafique said that Prime Minister’s National Health Insurance Programme would be formally launched in Punjab by the end of this month for which all arrangements have been finalised.

He said that in first phase, four districts i.e. Rahim Yar Khan, Narowal, Khanewal and Sargodha are included in the Health Insurance Scheme.

He said this while chairing a high level meeting with State Minister for Health Saira Afzal Tarar to review the arrangements of launching the health insurance programme at Civil Secretariat on Tuesday. The officers of Ministry of Health from Islamabad, Punjab Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Secretary Najam Ahmed Shah, Health Special Secretary Dr Sajid Mahmood Chauhan, Punjab Health Initiative Management Company (PHIMC) CEO Dr Saira Siddique and other officers concerned attended the meeting.

The meeting was briefed by the PHIMC CEO that the insurance cards distribution in Rahim Yar Khan has started. The scheme will be officially inaugurated by the end of September in Rahim Yar Khan and within two months in the remaining districts the distribution of cards would be completed, she added.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said that in the four nominated districts, 1.3 million families would get free medical facilities under Health Insurance Programme. He said that Punjab government has allocated Rs 1.5 billion for the scheme which would be spent through Prime Minister’s National Health Insurance Programme.

He said that district monitoring officers would be recruited to monitor the whole system. He said that in next phase, four more districts would be included in Health Insurance Programme, including Lahore and Faisalabad. The adviser revealed that Punjab government is planning to provide health cover to all the poor population of the 36 districts of Punjab in coming years.

Khawaja Salman also reviewed the implementation status of National Emergency Action Plan for polio eradication in the provincial Emergency Operation Centre (EOC) of the Directorate General Health Services. He emphasised the need to strengthen vaccination at inter-provincial borders.

Punjab EOC Coordinator Dr Munir Ahmed gave detailed briefing on Punjab’s challenges especially the movement pattern of migrant population in Lahore and Rawalpindi. He said 36 permanent transit points were operational with dedicated staff working 24 hours to vaccinate children coming from other provinces. He added Punjab faces a challenge of importation of virus from polio endemic areas.

Khawaja Salman said, “Punjab EPI team must start homework for introduction of rubella vaccine in routine immunisation by 2018-19. The preparatory work must be completed this year.”

He also reviewed progress on introduction of Rota Virus vaccine being introduced in Punjab’s six districts from next month and the validation status of Mother and Neonatal Tetanus (MNT) elimination in Punjab. A high level delegation from World Health Organisation and UNICEF will visit Punjab next month to validate Punjab request for MNT elimination status.

Khawaja Salman analysed a list of Punjab’s weak union councils assuring a follow up with districts as well as personal visits. He emphasised that Punjab cannot afford laxity despite good results in polio eradication and assured support in resolution of administrative logjams.