ISLAMABAD: The National Health Insurance Scheme was launched on Thursday, the first of its kind to introduce a grievance redressal system as well as social safety net for the poor people of the country.
A meeting was held in Islamabad on Thursday with Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif in the chair to launch the Health Insurance Programme covering about 100 million people in the country.
During the meeting, the architect of the scheme Maryam Nawaz gave a detailed briefing to the prime minister in which comparative study of major health blanket models of European Union, the United States and India, and options for implementing the scheme in Pakistan were discussed.
The prime minster said that Health Insurance Programme is the only way forward to provide health care protection to economically deprived people of the society. He said that the scheme will also enhance public-private partnership and open up further avenues for investment.
Sharif directed the ministries of finance and health to coordinate and finalize the technical modalities and implementation strategy in minimum possible time so that an early relief could be given to the people.