PM’s Health Insurance Scheme coverage to be expanded: Dar

ISLAMABAD, June 3 (APP): Minister for Finance Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday said the government had launched the Prime Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme to provide medical assistance to the deserving people.
The minister, in his budget speech, said the Ministry of National Health Services, Coordination and Regulations had launched the Prime Minister National Health Programme in collaboration with the provincial governments, which was aimed at improving the health status of the poor.
He said the Federal Government provided insurance cover for tertiary health care and hospitalization for several ailments. During 2015-18, around Rs 9 billion premium would be paid under the health insurance scheme. It was initially started in 23 districts of the country and would be gradually increased to cover all the poorest segment of society, he added.
Ishaq Dar said alongside the programme, soft loans were being
offered to the empaneled hospitals for upgradation of their medical facilities.Through these loans, the empaneled hospitals would focus more on improving health services, including maternal and child health.
The loans were being provided at subsidized rates through provision of mark-up subsidy and sharing in credit risk, he added.