PESHAWAR — Around 300,000 residents of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have availed free medical treatment outside the province under the Sehat Card Plus health insurance program, according to official records.
Since its launch in 2016, over five million beneficiaries have received treatment worth approximately Rs. 150 billion through the scheme. The program allows cashless treatment and diagnostic services at more than 700 empaneled hospitals across Pakistan using Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-issued national identity cards.
Official data shows that 294,287 patients sought treatment outside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. A majority traveled to Punjab, followed by Islamabad, Karachi, and Balochistan, while smaller numbers received medical care in Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The provincial government paid Rs. 1.229 billion to hospitals outside the province for these services. Health department officials stated that many beneficiaries were residing outside Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for employment, while others required specialized medical procedures not available locally.
The Sehat Card Plus program also covers organ transplants, including renal, liver, and cochlear procedures. Under the scheme, 235 renal, 80 liver, and 71 cochlear transplants have been performed free of cost.
Currently, the program provides coverage to 11 million families, offering free healthcare services of up to Rs. 1 million per family per year at hospitals nationwide.
