Balochistan Health Card Treatment Suspended as Rs5 Billion Remain Unreleased

**Quetta:** Medical treatment of patients under the **Balochistan Health Card** has been suspended after the provincial Finance Department failed to release more than **Rs5 billion** in pending funds, leading private hospitals in Karachi to stop treating patients from Balochistan under the scheme.

Sources in the Balochistan Health Department said the Balochistan Health Card Program currently owes around **Rs6 billion** to the **State Life Insurance Corporation**, which manages the scheme. However, the Balochistan Finance Department has released only **Rs1 billion**, while the remaining **Rs5 billion** has not been paid despite a lapse of more than six months.

Due to non-payment of dues, private hospitals in Karachi have completely halted treatment of Balochistan Health Card patients. Meanwhile, private hospitals within Balochistan have issued a **15-day ultimatum**, warning that they will also stop providing treatment under the health card if outstanding payments are not cleared.

The suspension of services has created serious difficulties for poor and underprivileged patients who rely on the health card for medical treatment. Many patients are now unable to access essential healthcare services.

Sources in the State Life Insurance Corporation said that the Government of Balochistan has been repeatedly informed through official letters to ensure timely release of funds for the Health Card Program, but the Finance Department has yet to act.

Public circles have strongly criticized the Balochistan Finance Department for withholding payments under the Health Card scheme and have appealed to **Chief Minister Balochistan** to issue immediate directives for the release of funds, so that treatment of patients under the Balochistan Health Card can resume without further delay.