Health Insurance Restored for Islamabad, AJK and GB from Jan 16

ISLAMABAD: Residents of Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) will once again be able to access free healthcare as the federal government restores health insurance coverage under the Sehat Sahulat Programme from January 16.

According to Dawn, the decision was approved by the National Steering Committee of the Sehat Sahulat Programme during a meeting chaired by Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal. The government has cleared a Rs40 billion plan to restart the scheme, which had been suspended for nearly two years.

Health insurance services for these regions were halted in March 2024 due to funding issues, leaving millions without access to free treatment at public and private hospitals. Since then, residents were forced to pay medical expenses themselves, adding pressure on already strained household budgets.

Under the revived programme, all permanent residents of Islamabad, AJK and GB will again be eligible for cashless hospital treatment, covering major medical procedures. Dawn reported that the scheme will operate under a Universal Health Coverage model to ensure equal access for all families in these regions.

The meeting was attended by senior officials, including the health secretary and the chief executive officer of the Sehat Sahulat Programme. Officials confirmed that contracts with the State Life Insurance Corporation and NADRA will be extended to ensure smooth operations and uninterrupted services.

The federal government has also directed that pending payments and liabilities related to the scheme be cleared through the Public Sector Development Programme, following instructions from the prime minister.

Speaking at the meeting, Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal said the government aims to strengthen healthcare delivery through a modern insurance system rather than directly managing hospitals. He said this approach would improve service quality, transparency and patient dignity.

The restoration comes as a major relief for residents who had seen people in other provinces continue to benefit from health card coverage while their own services remained suspended.

With the scheme’s return, more than 10 million people in Islamabad, AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan are expected to regain access to free medical treatment, offering much-needed support to families facing rising healthcare costs.

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