ISLAMABAD: The federal government has included 42 private hospitals in the Health Facility Program in Islamabad as part of efforts to reduce pressure on public healthcare institutions and expand access to medical services, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal announced on Tuesday.
Speaking at a ceremony in Islamabad, the minister said the government will bear the treatment costs of patients receiving care at the newly enrolled private hospitals under the Health Facility Program, which has been revived after several years of suspension.
Mustafa Kamal said improving access to quality healthcare remains a key government priority. He noted that increasing population growth and rising demand for medical services have placed significant pressure on public hospitals, making it difficult to meet healthcare needs through the public sector alone.
Government To Cover Treatment Costs
According to the minister, all treatment expenses at the 42 private hospitals included in the program will be covered by the government for eligible beneficiaries.
He said the initiative is intended to ease overcrowding in Islamabad’s major public hospitals and provide patients with greater access to healthcare services through public-private sector collaboration.
Growing Demand For Healthcare Services
Mustafa Kamal stated that Islamabad’s population has exceeded 3.5 million, while hospitals in the federal capital also receive patients from Rawalpindi, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and other regions.
As a result, healthcare facilities in Islamabad face additional pressure, leading to overcrowding and increasing complaints regarding service delivery and patient experience.
Public-Private Partnership In Healthcare
The health minister said federal and provincial governments collectively spend approximately Rs1.156 trillion annually on healthcare. However, patient satisfaction levels remain low despite the substantial expenditure.
Citing a government study, he said collaboration with the private sector could help deliver improved healthcare services at a significantly lower cost than expanding infrastructure solely through the public sector.
Mustafa Kamal said universal health coverage remains an important policy objective and warned that without greater private-sector participation, Pakistan would need thousands of additional hospitals to meet future healthcare demand.
Quality Standards To Be Monitored
The minister said hospitals that fail to maintain treatment standards or are found negligent in patient care will be removed from the program.
He also thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for supporting the restoration of the Health Facility Program, describing it as a step toward improving healthcare access and service delivery across the country.
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