The Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) government, in collaboration with the German government, has introduced a free outpatient department (OPD) health insurance scheme aimed at providing essential healthcare services to underprivileged and deserving families.
Officials said the pilot project is being carried out by the GB Health Department with support from KfW, a German state-owned investment and development bank. Under the programme, eligible families will receive free medical treatment through OPD Sehat Hifazat Cards.
The initiative was formally launched during a ceremony at the GB Chief Minister’s Secretariat on the occasion of the region’s Independence Day.
The event was attended by GB Chief Minister Amjad Hussain, Assembly Deputy Speaker Malik Kifayatur Rehman, Health Minister Iqbal Hassan, other provincial ministers, the health secretary and representatives of partner organisations.
Addressing the ceremony, the chief minister described the initiative as a major step towards improving primary healthcare facilities across the region.
“Our objective is to ensure that deserving families have easier access to essential medical facilities without facing an unbearable financial burden,” he said.
He appreciated the German government’s commitment to continuing its support during the third and fourth phases of the project, saying the partnership would contribute to better healthcare services and help strengthen the region’s health system.
The chief minister said the pilot scheme was being launched in GB and was expected to cover around 67,000 people. He added that the programme would gradually be expanded to other districts in different phases.
He said the GB government was committed to establishing a universal healthcare system to ensure that every citizen could access quality medical facilities.
“For this purpose, cooperation between the Sindh government and the GB health department would be further strengthened to facilitate free treatment for deserving patients from the region at major hospitals in Sindh,” he added.
The chief minister also announced that classes at the proposed medical college would begin next year. He said the institution would help address the shortage of doctors in GB while providing talented students from the region with opportunities to pursue medical education.
Clarify the health insurance coverageTighten the ceremony details.