The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government, under the directives of Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur, has introduced a groundbreaking initiative to ensure universal health coverage by adding free OPD (Outpatient Department) services to the Sehat Card Plus program.
Chief Minister Gandapur formally inaugurated the free OPD services at a ceremony held at the Chief Minister’s House on Wednesday, attended by Provincial Cabinet Members, Members of the National and Provincial Assembly, and Health Department officials.
The initiative is being launched as a pilot project in Mardan district, benefiting 50,000 deserving households. In the second phase, the scheme will expand to Chitral, Malakand, and Kohat districts.
Under this program, patients will receive free medications, medical tests, and healthcare services. The project is being implemented in collaboration with the German organization KfW and will gradually expand. Based on Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) data, approximately 120,000 deserving households across the four districts will benefit from this initiative.
Free OPD services will be available not only at Sehat Card panel hospitals but also at all Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Centers (RHCs) at the Union Council level. Notably, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is the first province in Pakistan to offer free OPD services under the Sehat Card Plus program.
