LAHORE , July 3, 2023: Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has said that government was not going to end treatment on health card in the province and treatment of any poor person would not be stopped.
Mr Naqvi visited the Akbar Chowk Flyover project late at night and reviewed the progress of the work. The caretaker provincial ministers Aamir Mir and Azfar Ali Nasir were also with him. The Chief Minister expressed his satisfaction over the development work on the project.
Talking to the media, CM Naqvi said that misuse of health card had been blocked. Heart operations had not been stopped at all. He said government will have to pay 30 percent to private hospitals for heart operations. Health cards were not being blocked and treatment of poor on health cards would continue.
Talking about the crime rate, Punjab CM said that the crime rate had brought down but it should be brought down further.
In response to a question about accumulation of rainwater in Kalma Chowk underpass, he said that action would be taken against those responsible after receiving the report.
Meanwhile, CM Mohsin Naqvi has given approval for upgradation, renovation and expansion of religious scholars’ tombs.
Under the project, the tombs will be expanded and renovated phase-wise. The tomb of Shah Shams Tabraizi (R.A) will be expanded and upgraded first. Similarly, tombs of Baba Fariduddin Gang Shakar and Baba Bullay Shah will be renovated, upgraded and expanded.
Earlier on Sunday, addressing a press conference alongwith Information Minister Amir Mir, Health Minister Dr Javed Akram said that provincial government had taken a policy decision that all who could travel abroad or afford an electricity bill of Rs 8,000 or more will not be eligible for free treatment on the health card.
He was of the view that health cards were being grossly misused. He said the policy decision was taken to save drainage of funds.
Dr Akram expressed concerns regarding misuse of the health card, explaining that excessive usage had depleted resources.
To address this issue, a fund of Rs1.5 billion had been established, and only government hospitals will now provide free heart treatment. Private hospitals will charge a 30% fee for such treatments.