CM’s Intervention Restores Health Card Services as Billions Released for Patient Treatment

**Quetta (Daily Qudrat Quetta):**
The Balochistan Finance Department has released **Rs. 2.25 billion** for the Health Card Program, enabling the resumption of treatment for patients after services had been suspended due to outstanding dues.

The **Balochistan Health Card Program**, launched to provide free medical treatment to poor and deserving patients, had accumulated dues of **Rs. 5 billion** with State Life Insurance. As a result, private hospitals in Karachi had stopped providing treatment to patients under the health card scheme.

Following media reports highlighting the issue, **Chief Minister Balochistan Mir Sarfaraz Bugti** took notice of the non-release of funds and issued immediate directives to ensure the payment. Acting on the CM’s orders, the Finance Department released **Rs. 2.25 billion**, allowing treatment services to restart. However, the Health Card Program still has **outstanding liabilities of Rs. 2.75 billion**.

Sources in the Health Department expressed optimism that, in line with the directives of the Chief Minister, the remaining funds would also be released soon to ensure that **poor and deserving patients** do not face any further disruption in their medical treatment.

The move has been welcomed by patients and hospital administrations alike, as it restores access to essential healthcare services under the flagship health card initiative.