KP Notifies Massive Hike for Medical Procedure Under Health Card

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) health department has announced a 40% increase in the rates for cardiac procedures under the Sehat Card Plus health insurance scheme.

The decision was made during a policy board meeting on Saturday, chaired by Health Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah, following directives from Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur. Key attendees included the CEO of the Sehat Card Plus, Dr. Mohammad Riaz Tanoli, Health Secretary Adeel Shah, Director-General (Health Services) Dr. Mohammad Salim Khan, and other relevant officials.

Starting next month, hospitals performing cardiac procedures will receive higher payments. The board’s approval will result in a 40% increase in payments for 26 cardiac interventions under the Sehat Card Plus. The officials noted that the hospitals’ demand for higher rates was discussed two months ago, with many hospitals expressing dissatisfaction with the rates established in 2016.

Currently, around a dozen hospitals in KP offer cardiac services under the Sehat Card Plus. The officials highlighted that 27% of the SCP’s budget is allocated to services for heart patients due to the high costs of cardiac procedures, which many patients cannot afford on their own.

In the past, heart patients faced long wait times for procedures, with hospitals citing a lack of beds as the issue, though the underlying problem was the insufficient rates offered by the government. Some senior cardiologists and heart surgeons refused to treat patients under the SCP, opting for private patients who could pay higher fees.

Minister Syed Qasim Ali Shah stressed the importance of maintaining high standards of care under the Sehat Card Plus. He directed hospitals to ensure that patients receive the best possible care, reiterating that there would be no compromise on the quality of services provided.