The government has decided to establish a modern cancer hospital in federal capital for which Rs 500 million has been earmarked in the upcoming budget 2015-16. This was stated by Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Saira Afzal Tarar while briefing a Senate Standing Committee, here on Tuesday.
She said that the government would launch Prime Minister Insurance Scheme for the people living below poverty line or with a monthly income of Rs 6000. The committee met under the Chairmanship of Senator Sajjad Hussain Turi to discuss the budgetary allocations for the ministry.
The meeting was informed that a large number of poor families would be covered under this health insurance scheme. The committee was also informed that establishment of National Foundation for Family Health was also under consideration and in this regard the ministry had forwarded a summary to the Prime Minister. The Minister said that over the past one year polio cases in the country had significantly reduced from 82 to 24.
She said that after the passage of 18th Constitutional Amendment, the health departments were devolved to the provinces and federal government now looked into the health matters of the federal areas, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltsitan and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT). Speaking on the occasion, the Secretary Ministry of NHSRC said that Islamabad was far behind in terms of health facilities as compared to other big cities of the country.
Replying to questions, the Secretary said that the government had decided to establish a single entity to look after the health related matters of the capital city and areas under federal government. Briefing about the PM's Insurance Scheme, the Minister said that an estimated premium of Rs 2,000 per family annually was proposed for secondary care with addition of Rs 500 per family annually for priority treatment. Secondary hospitalization component including maternity benefits and day care admissions would be limited to Rs 50,000 per family per year.
The committee was informed that due to devolution, the budgetary allocations for the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination in 2015-16 had been reduced to Rs 10 billion from Rs 27.1 billion in 2014-15. The Ministry has requested for allocation of Rs 28 billion as it has to take up 39 projects in 2015-16 against 21 projects in 2014-15.
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