IN line with his vision of universal health coverage, Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday launched Sehat Sahulat Programme for persons with disabilities and their families and said his government’s vision was based on the principles of improving conditions of the downtrodden and weaker segments of society.
This is first time that persons with disabilities have been made part of such an important healthcare programme. Persons with disabilities needed these cards more than anybody else given the financial constraints when faced with any ailment. Now major challenge for authorities will be to ensure that these cards reach all categories of disabled persons whether they are in cities or far-flung villages, and that no one is missed out. Ensuring this will be a great achievement of health ministry and Ehsaas programme and it can be acquired through coordination from institution like NADRA that has relevant data of disabled persons.
In fact a lot more needs to be done to economically empower and bring to mainstream these disabled persons. Firstly, the job quota for them in public sector departments needs to be implemented in letter and in spirit. Technical and vocational training programmes need to be carved for them keeping in view their disability besides offering talented lot special scholarships. As regards Sehat Sahulat cards, we expect that PTI government will continue the process of extending this facility to other marginalised segments of the society including eunuchs.
