Health insurance scheme to be launched in Punjab:Kh Salman

Lahore: Advisor to Chief Minister on Health, Kh. Salman Rafique has said that in order to provide quality healthcare facilities to the poor and lower middle class population, Health insurance scheme is being launched in Punjab by the end of June this year. He said that in first phase, four poor of the poorest districts have been included in the scheme which are Layyah, Rajanpur, Chakwal and Hafizabad, after that the scope of health insurance would be extended to other districts.

He said this while addressing meeting of Board of Directors of Punjab Health Initiative Management Company under the Chairmanship of Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha MPA, Secretary Health Jawad Rafique Malik, MD Punjab Health Foundation Izhar Ahmed Sheikh, Prof. Hamayun Maqsood, Additional Secretary Finance Department Zahoor Ahmed, Member P&D Ijaz Hussain, Dr. Naeem ud Din Mian, Prof. Turab of LUMS, DG PITB Rizwan Rasheed and other concerned officers attended the meeting. The meeting finalized the recommendations for the appointment of Chief Executive Officer, Secretary, Chief Financial Officer, Director Enrolment, Director Empanelment, Director Health Insurance, Director IT/MIS. The meeting prepared recommendations   on recruitment criteria, qualification, experience and other modalities for the said positions to select highly qualified persons on purely merit basis. MD Punjab Health Foundation gave briefing regarding the draft recommendations.

Kh. Salman Rafique said that provision of quality healthcare services to the people of Punjab is the top most priority of the Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for which health insurance system is being introduced. He said that there is need of highly qualified and experienced persons for different posts of Punjab Health Initiative Management Company to run the scheme successfully. He said that selection of the said persons for the posts of Punjab Health Initiative Management Company would be made purely on merit basis from the open market for which a very handsome pay package would also be given so that hard working, highly qualified and eligible persons may come forward.

Dr. Ayesha Ghaus Pasha said that the recommendations prepared by the Board of governors would be sent to Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for final approval. She said that all arrangements are being finalized on fast track so that the health insurance scheme might be launched by the end of June 2015. She disclosed that selection of poor and deserving families would be made on the basis of data from Benazir Income Support Programme prepared by the NADRA. Health Insurance Scheme would be another historic step of the Chief Minister, Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif for providing relief to the poor people of Punjab, she added.