WSJ report on How Pakistan’s National Health Insurance Program Will Work ?

How Pakistan’s National Health Insurance Program Will Work

Pakistan’s government launched a national health insurance program for its poorest households Thursday, marking the start of the most-ambitious public health project in the country’s history.

The Prime Minister’s National Health Program will from Thursday cover families that make less than $2 a day through a gradual rollout. In the first phase, over 3 million families will get health insurance in 23 districts, with the ultimate aim to cover 22 million households across the country, officials said.

“This is another step towards the welfare state that we promised to create when we came into power,”said Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.

The Pakistani government already subsidizes health care to varying degrees in public hospitals, but officials acknowledge these facilities are unable to handle the patient load or achieve public health targets.

The government said earlier this year that it wouldn’t be able to meet the United Nation’s targets for child and maternal mortality rates that formed part of the Millennium Development Goals, which had a deadline of 2015. Critics have blamed Pakistan’s low health spending and inadequate management as key factors in the poor health provision. Between July 2014 and March 2015, Pakistan spent just 0.42% of its GDP on health. The U.S. government spends about 8.3% of GDP on healthcare.

The new insurance program will cover treatment at both public and private hospitals. Private hospitals that sign up will then be offered loans on easy terms to upgrade their facilities, officials said, without providing further details about interest rates and conditions.

Saira Afzal Tarar, minister of state for health Services, regulations and coordination, said most Pakistanis pay out of pocket for treatment. “There is treatment at government-run hospitals, but there are long lines. Those who don’t have a recommendation have to wait months for treatment,” Ms. Tarar said at the launch ceremony in Islamabad. “With this [health insurance] card, you’ll be able to go to the hospitals where you weren’t allowed to even go to the front door. Now, you’ll be treated there with dignity and respect.” Ms. Tarar said.

The national health program, with an initial funding of 9 billion Pakistani rupees ($86 million) will pay for the treatment of the types of illnesses identified by the government as critical: heart disease, diabetes and related illnesses, cancer, kidney and liver diseases, complications from infections like HIV and Hepatitis, road accidents, and burn injuries. Officials said coverage can be extended to other conditions considered life-threatening.

The government said Thursday that the program will be run in partnership with provincial governments, which will share the financial burden. Beneficiaries will receive insurance cards, after selection from a database of low-income Pakistanis set up in 2008 for a separate cash support program.

The coverage includes 50,000 rupees for general treatment, and 300,000 rupees for serious illnesses. Mr. Sharif said on Thursday that the government is making arrangements for an emergency fund that would extend coverage to 600,000 rupees for cases that require longer treatment.

Officials on Thursday didn’t provide specific timelines for the rollout of the next phase, which is expected to cover another 3.3 million households. The finance ministry said earlier this year that the program aims to cover 22 million families.

The finance ministry, quoting World Bank data and 2008 population estimates, said last year that if living on $2 a day is taken as the poverty line, over 60% of the population would fall in that category.

http://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2015/12/31/how-pakistans-national-health-insurance-program-will-work/

 

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Punjab to build a public sector CANCER hospital

Punjab to build a public sector CANCER hospital 

Published in daily WAQT dated February 05, 2014.

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Punjab to establish Liver Transplant center in Children Hospital

Liver Transplant center in Children Hospital

Punjab is establishing liver transplant center in children hospital Lahore. This news report was published in Daily WAQT dated December 30, 2013.

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#RoshanPakistan | Ground Breaking of NALTAR-V Hydro Power Project

Radio Pakistan- PM announces a number of Development Schemes for GB

PM announces a number of Development Schemes for GB

The PM said a cardiac center will be established in Gilgit & work on Diamer Basha & Dasu dams will be started immediately.

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has announced a number of development schemes for Gilgit Baltistan including establishment of cardiac center.
Addressing party workers in Gilgit on Friday‚ he said a cardiac center will be established in Gilgit so that the heart patients do not go to Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for treatment.
He also announced establishment of a special police force for the area saying it will be equipped with latest weapons and equipment in order to deal with security issues in the area.
The Prime Minister said the government is in the process of purchasing new aircraft for Pakistan International Airlines and with the procurement of these aircraft‚ the service of PIA to Skardu and Gilgit will be improved.
He said focus is being given to the development of Gilgit Baltistan and soon this area will be bracketed among the developed areas of the country.
He said good governance and transparency will be ensured in the development schemes.
Referring to economic trade corridor from Kashgar to Gwadar‚ Nawaz Sharif said this project will benefit Gilgit Baltistan the most as compared to other parts of the country.
This project comprising of motorway type road and railway line‚ will enhance exports of Gilgit-Baltistan's local products including fruits and vegetables. It will pave way for establishment of more industries in the area and thus help generate employment opportunities.
He said work on Diamer Basha and Dasu dams will immediately be started while work on Bunji dam will also be started soon. These projects‚ he said‚ will produce over 15 thousand megawatt of electricity.
Nawaz Sharif said Youth Business loans scheme‚ which has been extended to Azad Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan‚ is being launched tomorrow to help the youth stand on their own feet.
Sharing main features of the scheme‚ the Prime Minister said under this scheme‚ the skilled and educated youth can obtain loans up to two million rupees.
Earlier‚ The Prime Minister inaugurated the newly constructed terminal at Gilgit Airport. He visited different parts of the building.
Speaking on the occasion‚ he directed to ensure proper maintenance of the airport and passenger lounge to facilitate passengers.
The Prime Minister was informed that new terminal has covered areas of over 39000 square feet having a capacity of 180 passengers.
The Prime Minister presided budget session of Gilgit-Baltistan Council in Gilgit.
Minister of Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir Affairs Barjees Tahir presented the budget.
Later‚ Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif laid foundation stone of Naltar-5 hydro power project in district Gilgit today (Friday).
The 14.4 MW project would cost 3.84 billion rupees and would be completed in 2016 with Chinese cooperation.
Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had an aerial view of Atta Abad Lake in Gilgit-Baltistan.
He also had an aerial view of the area where Economic Corridor project would pass through. He was briefed about impact of the project on Karakoram Highway.
Earlier on his arrival in Gilgit Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif was warmly received by the Governor and Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan at the Airport.

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Shahbaz Sharif's Good Governance Outside Lahore

Shahbaz Sharif's Good Governance Outside Lahore 

Ever since the inauguration of the historic rapid bus mass transit system in Lahore, it has been widely acclaimed that the GoP is spending the whole development budget in Lahore. According to the misinformed but well trained propaganda icons, the rest of the Punjab is lagging well behind in basic facilities of modern life. Although, for the number of times it has been properly propagated through the mainstream media that the SS's GoP has spent much  more than what had been spent on Southern Punjab during the previous regimes. This is not only true for southern Punjab but also implies for central as well as the northern Punjab. The fact that all the capital cities around the globe are far ahead of their other local cities, Lahore is given more attention towards development and other activities. This does not mean that all other areas are left without any development. Another point of consideration is the population. Being the host of roughly 10 million humans, Lahore is approx. 3 times larger than Faisalabad, 4 times Rawalpindi, 5 times Multan and Gujranwala, 13 times larger than Bahawalpur and  over 16X larger then Rahimyarkhan. The dominated factor of population is an extremely important component  that counts for the mega development of Lahore. 

Having said that, in this blog post the intention is to nullify the concept that Lahore develops at the cost of development budget allocated to other areas of Punjab.  To prove this myth baseless, the development work outside Lahore during 2008-2013 is discussed here.

Health Sector 

Health being the most basic necessity of life comes under the top priorities in all the welfare states around the globe. CM Shahbaz Sharif, while knowing the importance of state of the art health facilities once stated

“Provision of health‚ transportation‚ educational facilities are my top priorities”, 

But  having only said that isn't enough. For it's only the action that can speak volumes. Although the medical colleges are the fuel for running a good stable health sector, in this blog they are being covered under the cloud of the education sector. Here only new establishments in the health sector are discussed.

We have compiled a list of health centers established worth billion of rupees in areas that are outside Lahore division. These include the following

• State of the art Cardiac Center at Chunian, the first of its kind to be established in Kasur in June 2012
• Fully equipped and functional Thalassemia Center Mianwali, dated July 14,2012
• Children Hospital, Mandibahuddin in Dec 2012
• Establishment of District Headquarter Hospital, Naorwal in March 2013
• Dialysis Centers at THQ Hospital Hazro and Haitian-Jahanian road district Attock in 2013
• Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi in 2013
• Commencement of work on Punjab’s first Institute of Urology, Rawalpindi which will have the capacity to conduct kidney transplants and will have the best and latest machinery installed, work has commenced on this mega project and it will cost 3 billion rupees. 

Other then these incentives the issue with the doctors on strike was impeccably solved as a result their salaries were increased many folds and their service structure was approved.  

Education Sector

Education is an issue of prime importance for any country. It helps in prospering through the tough times of the nations. Knowing the importance of education several initiatives were taken that are briefly explained here . I would also like to quote an example of Britian where new special purpose schools were built at the cost of millions to facilitate the young brains. One such is an educational village in Darlington, that was an inspiration of creating a separate chain of institutes for the most dejected faction of our society. 

As we stated earlier a list of major educational and research institutes developed during 08-13 are given below. 

• Danish School in Mianwali inaugurated in 2013
• Government Nawaz Sharif Girls Degree College in Mandibahuddin with 3000 student capacity in Dec 2012
• Special education center in Mandi Yazman, worth 45 Million PKR in Dec 2012 
• Rice Research Institute in Bahawalnager in Oct 2012
• Danish School Chistian and Attock
• Inauguration Of Vocational Training Institute At Bahawalpur Feb 2012
• Inauguration of Vocational Training Institute and Arts Council. in DG Khan Dec 2011
• Commencement of work at the Medical College at DG Khan To Be Constructed At A Cost Of Rs. 818 million.
• Establishment of University in DG Khan, 
• Establishment of Engineering Universities in Multan,
• Establishment of Women University in Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Bahawalpur.  
• Establishment of sub campus UET LHR in Narowal.
• Establishment of Sheikh Kahlifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan vocational training institute in Rahim Yar khan in March 2013.
• Upgradation of Govt. Women college Faisalabad to Women university.
• Commencement of work for the Rehmat Al Alameen Medical College Faisalabad.

Parks and Horticulture, Sport facilities

For the importance of establishing recreational parks can never be suspected, steps were taken on the recommendation of the legislators from local areas. Then I too was astonished to see a lush green grassy football ground in my village 448GB tehsil samundri.  Following are some of the recreational facilities developed across Punjab.

• A family Park established in the populated suburbs of Mandi Bahauddin in Dec 2012
• City Sports Complex Gujranwala, first of its kind in the region to promote sports activities Dec 2012
• A beautiful family amusement facility "Shahbaz Sharif Park" which has been developed on a previously wasted piece of land with a huge swamp in Faisalabad 
• Inauguration of Lyallpur Park, Faisalabad in Nov 2011 
• Formation of Sheikh Kahlifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan public park in Rahim Yar khan in March 2013.

Infrastructure 

Infrastructure is actually the heart of any development activity. Without having a strong infrastructure nations can not progress. Roads connecting the farms to the markets pave the way to economic stability. Communication in this regard is important . Let me quote an urdu proverb that "کتے کے منہ میں ہاتھی کے دانت نہیں اگتے ". Meaning that if you want to have precious items like elephant teeth you can only get it by having elephants. China's present policy is the witness of this proverb. They built the infrastructure and then used that for industrial growth. Here in Punjab, Shahbaz Sharif has been known for the speedy and well planned projects. A list of some important projects is given below

1. Southern bypass which will connect D.G Khan to Muzaffargarh
2. Haroonabad City Road and Bahawalnagar City package that includes the betterment of existing road network in Oct 2012
3. Flyover at 6th Junction along Murree Road Rawalpindi in 2012
4. Commencement of work at Muzaffargarh-Alipur Road which will be a 115 kilometer dual carriageway
5. In July 2012 CM laid the foundation stone of a bridge to be constructed over river Jehlum at a cost of Rs 2 billion.
6. CM laid foundation stones of a sports complex and grain market in Hafizabad in July 2012
7. Foundation stone on 17 kilometer road from Kotli Sattiyan to Dhanda Dec 2012
8. Over-head bridge at Changa Manga Level Crossing at Chunian built at a cost of 443 million rupees, July 8 2012
9. Dual carriage underpass at AbdullahPur Faisalabad.
10. Development works in Okara for upgradation of various link roads.
11. Flyover and underpass at Pir Wadhai, Rawalpindi.

Housing Sector 

In one of my previous blog I mentioned that the concept of MAKAAN was in practice only fulfilled by Mian Nawaz Sharif when in 1986 he passed a bill from PA to grant the ownership to the residents of Katchi bastiees. It was exactly 26 years before the birth of CHNAGE. The same was continued whenever PMLN was given a mandate , be it the land distribution among landless peasants of Sindh or the todays residents of Athena Housing schemes. A glimpse of work in the housing sector is given below.

• Ownership certificates of 5 Marla plots were also given to extremely poor residents of South Punjab who do not own any property and had qualified through a transparent and merit based process. More than 25,000 people in South Punjab will benefit from this 5 Marla Jinnah Abadi Scheme
• CM visited the housing complex being constructed by the Turkish Government for flood affectees is partially complete and consists of 1270 houses in Muzaffargarh
• Certificates of ownership among successful and deserving applicants who had applied for 5 Marla plots In Dist. Tuba teak Singh.
• Construction and Inauguration  of Ganda Khel (IsaKhel), district Mianwali which was destroyed during flood in 2011, dated July 2012
• Labor Colony Muzaffargarh May 2012. 303 houses
• Model Village Constructed in Flood Affected Area of Rakh Jhalwala in Muzaffargarh Dec 2011
• Model Village in Layyah for Flood affectees Nov 2011
• 250 houses for destitute, Shahbaz Nager in Faisalabad in Nov 2011

In the end some work for the improvement of basic living conditions is given that has facilitated the local people a lot. The list is given below

• Clean drinking water supply scheme worth 320 million rupees in Kamalia, Dist Toba Tek Singh on Nov. 2012
• Hafizabad, inaugurated the Land Record Management Information System (LRMIS) Service Center in July 2012
• Improvement and expansion of water supply system project in Faisalabad May 2012
• Sewerage scheme with water treatment plant in Rahim Yar Khan in March 2013.
• Model Police Station Gujranwala, established in Dec 2012, under Police Reforms Program.

Another point of consideration is the population. Being the host of roughly 10 million humans, Lahore is approx. 3 times larger than Faisalabad, 4 times Rawalpindi, 5 times Multan and Gujranwala, 13 times larger than Bahawalpur and  over 16X larger then Rahimyarkhan. The dominated factor of population is an extremely important component  that counts for the mega development of Lahore. 

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Foreign periodicals | Fight against Dengue

MIT Tech. Review | Fight Against Dengue

In 2011-12 Lahore was stricken by the worst outbreak of Dengue fever. The govt of Punjab lead by Shahbaz Sharif adopted scientific and state of the art methods to eradicate the dengue epidemic. This article was published by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (The #1 Engg. institute of world). Indeed its an honor for all Pakistanis.
This article can be accessed online at 

http://www.technologyreview.com/news/506276/pakistan-uses-smartphone-data-to-head-off-dengue-outbreak/

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