The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in Islamabad has halted free treatment services for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab patients. Under the health facility card program, this suspension stems from unpaid insurance claims.
This decision affects many patients, especially those who need gynaecological and general surgery.
Hospital sources indicate that State Life Insurance has not settled outstanding claims amounting to Rs 140 million, prompting the suspension.
Consequently, patients dependent on the health facility card for complimentary treatments now face challenges in accessing medical care. However, services will still be provided at no cost to those in the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU), Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and those undergoing dialysis under the program.
The suspension will disproportionately impact poorer and lower-middle-class residents of both provinces. These groups rely heavily on the health facility card for critical medical interventions.
While emergency procedures for patients from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will continue at PIMS, new admissions under the health facility card are paused until the financial issues are addressed.
