When the SehatSahulat Program – better known as the Sehat Card – was launched, signaling a new dawn in Pakistan’s journey toward equitable healthcare. In a country where millions struggle to afford even the most basic medical attention, the promise of free treatment worth up to Rs.1 million per family annually was nothing short of revolutionary step. From life-saving cardiac surgeries to maternal care, dialysis, and cancer treatment, the card empowered families to dream of health security once thought unreachable.
This was not just a welfare initiative – it was a vision of dignity for the underserved, a policy anchored in the belief that healthcare is a right, not a privilege.
Yet today, that vision appears clouded.
Across various districts in Punjab, particularly in remote and rural regions such as Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, and Rajanpur, an unsettling shift is unfolding. Citizens report difficulty in accessing Sehat Card services, especially at private hospitals, where some have observed a pause in service availability. While no official suspension has been announced, the growing confusion at hospital gates – especially among those who travel long distances for care – suggest an urgent need for clarity.
This silent drift into uncertainty has raised a fundamental concern: Can a program so vital to public health afford ambiguity?
The people of Punjab, who have placed their trust in this system, now stand in a space of unanswered questions. There have been no public briefings, no awareness campaigns, and no government statements to explain the current status. The absence of communication is not just a logistical gap – it is a pause in public confidence.
In districts where public healthcare infrastructure is limited and private options are prohibitively expensive, the Sehat Card was more than a subsidy – it was a symbol of hope. With its services no longer functioning as seamlessly as before, families in need of urgent medical care face a return to uncertainty. The very communities this initiative was designed to uplift are again being left behind.
But this is not the end of the story. It is a moment for renewal.
Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who has recently introduced innovative policies in education, transport, and youth development, this is an opportunity to refocus on a project that already carries deep public impact. The Sehat Card does not need to be reinvented – it needs to be revitalized.
A few decisive steps – a public reassurance, transparent updates, and the streamlining of administrative channels – could restore this program to its full potential. Even more, this could become a defining moment for the current provincial leadership: a reaffirmation that citizens’ well-being remains the cornerstone of governance.
Healthcare systems thrive not only on infrastructure but on trust. And trust, once earned, must be continually nourished.
Punjab doesn’t require new slogans or temporary spectacles. It needs sustained policies that reflect consistency, compassion, and care for its most vulnerable. The Sehat Card, if brought back into full function, remains the most tangible expression of that care.
Let this be the chapter where action replaces uncertainty, where leadership listens, and where healthcare for all is not just a promise – but a practiced reality.
