The World Bank (WB) has hired a consultant to help Pakistan design and implement the proposed Health Insurance Scheme for beneficiaries under Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). Sources told Business Recorder that the Management Board of BISP has decided to formulate a plan of Health Insurance Scheme after consultations with Bank consultant and other stakeholders.
Federal government will also take provincial governments on board to implement the scheme. The Board, which met on January 8, was apprised that consultations were being held with various insurance companies, and Ministry of Health and other stakeholders, to introduce Health Insurance Scheme for poor families under BISP.
"The government has approached the World Bank for technical assistance to implement Health Insurance Scheme," BISP Chairperson Farzana informed the board meeting. She said that the Bank had accepted the request and hired a consultant to implement the scheme.
The BISP chairperson said that the World Bank had also arranged a workshop with the management of India's Rashtriya Swashtriya Bema Yojana (RSBY), Bangladesh representatives, as well as its own experts from headquarters in Bangkok on January 25-26 to seek input on Health Insurance Scheme.
She added that the World's Bank consultant had given a detailed presentation on the scheme. It was noted that a final draft of the plan would be prepared in the light of these discussions and submitted to the Board for a decision. During the discussions, establishment of a loophole-free and transparent system was also underscored.
The Minister for Health, who participated in the meeting as special invitee, said that Ministry of Health would provide all possible help to BISP for an effective Health Insurance System for BISP's beneficiaries. It was also agreed that the provincial governments must be kept on board while devising implementation plan as primary, secondary and tertiary hospitals were in control of provincial governments.