PESHAWAR: The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has announced the inclusion of three major transplant procedures — kidney, liver, and bone marrow — under its flagship Sehat Card Plus programme, in a move aimed at drastically reducing the financial burden of serious medical conditions on citizens.
Additionally, the cost of cochlear implants, often required for children with hearing loss, will now be fully covered by the government.
The announcement was made following a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. Provincial Information Adviser Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif hailed the decision as a “revolutionary step” in line with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)’s healthcare reform vision.
“The government will now provide these essential transplant and implant services completely free of cost to eligible patients,” said Saif. “This marks a significant expansion of the health insurance net.”
The provincial health department has been directed to implement the new policy with immediate effect. Officials also hinted at further additions to the scheme, including rehabilitation services for drug addiction.
The latest development builds on recent health initiatives in the province. Earlier, the KP government launched free Outpatient Department (OPD) services under the Sehat Card Plus scheme, starting with a pilot project in Mardan. That initiative covered 50,000 deserving households, and a second phase is set to extend benefits to Chitral, Malakand, and Kohat, reaching around 120,000 families based on Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) data.
In a parallel policy shift, the KP cabinet also approved regulations to permit the use of cannabis for medical, research, and industrial purposes — another step officials say aligns with modern health and science policy approaches.
The Sehat Card Plus programme has been one of the most high-profile social welfare projects in the province, and the inclusion of life-saving procedures such as transplants is expected to significantly increase its impact on public health outcomes.
