MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Health Department has clarified that the names of any government or private hospital in AJK have not been officially proposed or approved for the issuance of Health Card [Sehat Sahulat Card] so far.
In a statement, the spokesperson of the Health Department has said that the list of hospitals circulating on social media is incorrect, baseless, and fake.
A fake list of 33 hospitals went viral on social media, claiming that the government has approved these hospitals for the Health Card initiative.
The spokesperson confirmed that all the administrative and technical steps related to the Sehat Sahulat Card have not been completed yet. “The proposal and final approval of the names of hospitals is the last stage of this project, which has not been completed yet,” the statement reads.
Furthermore, the spokesperson clarified that the official announcement in this regard and the inauguration of Sehat Sahulat Card facilities will be jointly made by Azad Kashmir Public Health Minister Syed Bazil Ali Naqvi, Azad Kashmir Public Health Secretary Brigadier Aamir Raza Tipu, and Azad Kashmir Director General of Health Prof. Dr. Mumtaz Ahmed.
After the official announcement, Sehat Sahulat Card facilities will be available in all government hospitals in the state in a phased manner, it said, warning the public not to believe unverified information and only trust the information issued from official sources.
It should also be remembered that the Azad Kashmir government has not yet signed an agreement with any insurance company for the restoration of health cards, while the government had allocated Rs 2 billion in the budget, out of which the card facility was to be provided in government hospitals.
As per the details, the AJK government has requested the government of Pakistan to initiate necessary proceedings by establishing contact with insurance companies with a good reputation, having experience in issuing and managing Sehat Sahulat Card in Pakistan within three days.
“Further, a detailed report containing the action taken in this regard, suggestions, and recommendations received may be presented before the Minister of Public Health for approval of further action taken,” the letter added.
