Punjab has told participating private hospitals to stop new admissions and treatment approvals for several inpatient services under the Health Insurance Programme from Tuesday, sources said. The pause covers services such as general surgery, orthopaedic care and neurosurgery, among others, and their restart depends on the allocation of funds.
What PHIMC says about the pause
Officials at the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company (PHIMC), which manages the provincial Health Card scheme, denied that the programme had been shut down. A senior official said the Punjab Health Card remained operational and that the new instructions were tied to a delay in the release of funds. The company said it was in contact with the Planning and Development Board to speed up that release.
PHIMC also said the scheme continues to run through empanelled private hospitals. Under an earlier policy change, it had already been discontinued in government hospitals, where care is still available through ordinary public healthcare arrangements.
Which treatments are still covered
Dialysis, cancer treatment, cardiac surgeries and transplant programmes are exempt from the pause. Hospitals have been told not to refuse admission to patients covered under those programmes.
Patients who cannot get the needed authorisations for the suspended services may have to delay treatment or pay the bills themselves until funding is cleared.
Budget backing for the Health Card
In the provincial budget for fiscal year 2026-27, Punjab has allocated Rs29 billion to the Health Card programme. That sits inside a total health sector allocation of Rs500.62 billion. Officials’ talks with the Planning and Development Board are aimed at unlocking funds so paused inpatient approvals can resume.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- Earlier policy change: Health Card treatment was discontinued in government hospitals; public care there continues under existing arrangements.
- Fiscal year 2026-27: Punjab budget sets aside Rs29 billion for the Health Card within Rs500.62 billion for the health sector.
- Tuesday: Participating private hospitals instructed to stop new admissions and approvals for several inpatient services, including general, orthopaedic and neurosurgery.
- Current period: PHIMC says the programme remains operational, cites a fund-release delay, and is pressing the Planning and Development Board to expedite money.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Punjab ke Health Card par kuch bari surgeries ke naye admission abhi rukwa diye gaye hain. Dialysis, cancer, dil ki surgery aur transplant ab bhi cover hain. Paise late milne ki wajah se yeh pause hai, programme band nahi hua. Agar aap ki surgery in rukay hue categories mein hai, to wait karna ya khud kharcha uthana pad sakta hai.
