The Punjab government has officially ended the use of the Sehat Card (health card) for free treatment in government hospitals across the province. Hospital administrations have been directed to submit all pending health card claims by June 30, after which no further claims will be accepted.
This move marks a major policy shift, as the Sehat Card programme had previously allowed millions of Punjab residents to access free medical care in both public and private hospitals. Now, the health card will only be valid for use in private hospitals.
Punjab Specialised Healthcare Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique clarified that the government recently paid Rs. 22 billion for medicines supplied to its hospitals over the past five years. He assured the public that the discontinuation of the Sehat Card in government hospitals would not affect the provision of free treatment to patients.
According to Rafique, the government will continue to fund free healthcare in public hospitals through the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department, ensuring that essential services remain available to all.
The minister stated that the decision to restrict the Sehat Card to private hospitals was made to ensure the sustainability of the healthcare system and to better allocate resources. He emphasized that the health insurance programme for the people of Punjab would continue, albeit with this new limitation.