Punjab has instructed participating private hospitals to stop new admissions and treatment approvals for several inpatient services under the Health Insurance Programme from Tuesday, sources said. The affected services include general surgery, orthopaedic and neurosurgery, among others. Their continuation depends on the allocation of funds.
Sources at the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company (PHIMC) denied that the programme had been discontinued. A senior official said it remained operational and that the instructions were linked to a delay in the release of funds. The company is in contact with the Planning and Development Board to expedite the release.
Dialysis, cancer treatment, cardiac surgeries and transplant programmes are exempt from the instructions. Hospitals have been directed not to refuse admission to patients covered under these programmes.
Patients who cannot obtain the required authorisations may have to postpone treatment or pay the expenses themselves. The provincial budget for fiscal year 2026-27 allocates Rs29 billion to the Health Card programme, within a total health sector allocation of Rs500.62 billion.
PHIMC officials said the programme continues to operate through empanelled private hospitals. The company added that it had been discontinued in government hospitals under an earlier policy change, while treatment there remains available under existing public healthcare arrangements.
