The Central Development Working Party (CDWP), chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and Deputy Chairman Planning Commission Ahsan Iqbal, on Thursday approved and reviewed five major health sector projects aimed at strengthening public healthcare delivery under the URAAN Pakistan Social Sector Initiative.
Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal attended the meeting to present and support the projects of his ministry.
CDWP MEETING
During the session, the CDWP approved three projects with a total cost of Rs 12.524 billion, while two large-scale projects amounting to Rs 56.823 billion were recommended to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval.
Highlighting the government’s people-centric approach, Ahsan Iqbal said health remained a cornerstone of URAAN Pakistan, which prioritizes affordable healthcare, reduced out-of-pocket expenses and protection of vulnerable families from catastrophic medical costs.
Among the key initiatives, the CDWP reviewed and recommended the revised Sehat Sahulat Program costing Rs 40.19 billion to ECNEC. The programme will be implemented on a universal basis in Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan to expand coverage of secondary and priority inpatient healthcare. The initiative aims to reduce catastrophic hospitalization expenses by up to 60 percent for low-income households.
The forum also recommended the revised Establishment of Jinnah Hospital (Polyclinic-II) at G-11/3, Islamabad, costing Rs 15.95 billion, which includes expansion of bed capacity to 400, induction of modern IT systems, biomedical equipment, solar power solutions and other sustainability measures.
In addition, the CDWP approved projects for strengthening disease surveillance, border health services and cardiology facilities at the Federal Government Polyclinic. The approvals reaffirm the government’s commitment to strengthening healthcare infrastructure and ensuring equitable access to quality medical services nationwide. –ER News Desk
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