According to Khawja Salman Rafiq, the Punjab govt has decided to discontinue health card in the government hospitals of Punjab. While the Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said that no such decision has been made. In any case, the Punjab government’s decision to abolish the Sehat Sahulat (Health Card) Program would be nothing short of a betrayal of the poor and vulnerable. This program, launched by the previous PTI government, was a lifeline for millions of underprivileged families, providing them with free healthcare coverage of up to Rs. 1 million per family per year. However, since the current Punjab government took over, the program has been systematically weakened—first by reducing the coverage amount from Rs. 1 million to Rs. 700,000, then to Rs. 400,000, and now, shockingly, by scrapping it altogether.
This move will leave thousands of patients, especially those suffering from cancer, heart disease, kidney failure, and other critical illnesses, in utter despair. Many were in the middle of their treatments, relying on the health card to cover their medical expenses, only to be abruptly informed that the service has been discontinued. Reports indicate that on June 30, numerous patients who were due for surgeries or chemotherapy in government hospitals received phone calls telling them that the health card was no longer valid. They were given a cruel choice: either arrange the money themselves or wait indefinitely—an impossible demand for those already struggling to make ends meet.
The Punjab government, led by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, claims to stand with the poor, yet this decision exposes a stark disconnect between rhetoric and reality. The Sehat Sahulat Program was one of the most successful social welfare initiatives in Pakistan’s history, benefiting over 10 million families in Punjab alone. It ensured that even the poorest could access quality healthcare without falling into crippling debt. By dismantling it, the government has effectively denied healthcare to the most vulnerable segments of society.
Patients battling life-threatening diseases cannot afford delays or financial barriers. Many will be forced to abandon treatment, leading to preventable deaths.
If the Punjab government truly cares about the poor, it should strengthen, not destroy, a program that directly aids them.
Economic Burden on Families – Without the health card, families will be pushed into poverty due to catastrophic medical expenses. This abrupt withdrawal would erode public confidence in government health initiatives.
The Punjab government must urgently reverse this decision, if any, and restore the Sehat Sahulat Program in its original form. If there are concerns about misuse or financial constraints, reforms can be introduced—but scrapping the program altogether is unjustifiable and inhumane.
Healthcare is a basic human right, not a privilege for the rich. The government must prioritize saving lives over political point-scoring and reinstate this vital program without delay. The middle class of Punjab deserves better—they deserve a government that protects, not abandons, them in their time of need. The time to act is now—before more lives are lost.
