The Ministry of National Health Services is actively making arrangements to permanently integrate the Sehat Sahulat Card into the federal government’s broader healthcare framework, officials confirmed on Wednesday.
The proposal has been formally submitted to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for its approval.
According to Muhammad Arshad, who heads the Sehat Sahulat Card program, this initiative—once approved—will provide approximately 2.7 million families in Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), and Tharparkar district with access to free medical treatment. This treatment will be available at over 600 empanelled hospitals across the country.
Speaking to Samaa TV, Arshad stated: “The Sehat Sahulat Card is set to be maintained permanently under the federal program. The matter has been forwarded to ECNEC for approval.”
He added that the program represents a significant step towards achieving universal health coverage for underprivileged families residing in remote and marginalized regions. “After formal approval, residents of these areas will have continuous access to quality healthcare without any financial burden.”
The Sehat Sahulat Card offers comprehensive coverage for a variety of medical procedures, including hospitalization, surgeries, maternity care, and the management of chronic illnesses. Patients can avail treatment from both public and private sector hospitals that are part of the program’s panel.
Initially, the scheme was launched to assist low-income families in accessing essential healthcare services. Over time, the provincial governments of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa expanded the program within their respective jurisdictions. However, regions lacking devolved health infrastructure—such as AJK, GB, Islamabad, and certain parts of Sindh—have continued to rely on the federal version of the program.
