42 Hospitals Bring Free Sehat Sahulat Treatment Back to Islamabad

Health & Policy | June 2026 | 4 min read

⚡ Quick Takeaways

• Sehat Sahulat has been revived in Islamabad after years of suspension.
• The program is available at 42 hospitals across the twin cities.
• Eligible patients will receive free medical treatment for two years in the first phase.
• The government plans to explore free OPD coverage in the third year.
• Hospitals violating rules or enabling corruption may be delisted immediately.

The revival of the Sehat Sahulat Health Facilitation Program in Islamabad gives low-income families another route to hospital care at a time when rising medical costs and growing patient loads are putting pressure on households, public hospitals, and private healthcare providers.

Free Treatment Returns for Eligible Patients

Federal Minister for National Health Syed Mustafa Kamal has revived the Sehat Sahulat Health Facilitation Program in Islamabad, bringing back a major public health support scheme after years of suspension. The program has been launched across 42 hospitals in the twin cities, giving eligible patients access to free treatment under a structured and monitored system.

In the first phase, deserving patients will be able to receive free medical treatment for two years. The government also plans to work toward adding free outpatient department services in the third year, which would expand the scheme beyond hospital-based treatment and make it more useful for families that need routine consultation, follow-up care, and early diagnosis.

The announcement was made during the minister’s visit to Akbar Niazi Teaching Hospital, where he met patients and reviewed healthcare services. His visit also signaled that the program will be monitored closely through hospital-level inspections and patient data rather than being treated only as a budgetary announcement.

Program Snapshot

Real-Time Data and Delisting Rules Added

A key part of the relaunch is the government’s plan to collect real-time data on patient treatment and expenses. Kamal said this information will be used to improve transparency, reduce misuse, and ensure fair implementation of the program. For a health scheme funded through public resources, live monitoring can help authorities identify unusual billing patterns, weak service delivery, or gaps in patient access.

The minister also issued a clear warning to participating hospitals. Any hospital found violating program rules or facilitating corruption would be immediately delisted. This condition is important because public health insurance and facilitation schemes can lose public confidence when patients face informal charges, unnecessary delays, inflated claims, or denial of entitled services.

Islamabad’s Growing Patient Load Raises Pressure

The relaunch comes as Islamabad’s healthcare system faces rising demand. Kamal said the capital’s population has crossed 3.5 million, while hospitals in the city also receive large numbers of patients from Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, Rawalpindi, and nearby areas. This regional patient flow means that healthcare demand in Islamabad is much higher than what local population numbers alone suggest.

The minister cited a World Health Organization report to say that 13 million people in Pakistan are now living below the poverty line. Against this backdrop, hospital bills can push already vulnerable families into deeper financial stress. He also said Rs. 2 billion has already been spent on patients’ treatment during the last five months, showing both the scale of need and the cost of publicly supported healthcare.

Kamal further noted that the combined health budget of the federation and provinces stands at Rs. 1,156 billion, yet patient satisfaction remains below 10 percent. He argued that this gap reflects the need for targeted intervention, stronger governance, and reforms that improve the actual patient experience rather than only increasing allocations.

Universal Health Coverage Becomes the Bigger Goal

The minister described universal health coverage as the future of healthcare, saying many countries are already moving toward this model. According to him, a comprehensive study found that basic healthcare facilities could be provided with a budget of Rs. 210 billion. However, he also said Pakistan would need 5,000 more hospitals across the country to make universal access possible.

If the program is implemented with strict oversight, clear eligibility rules, and timely payments to hospitals, it could become an important model for expanding public health coverage in other high-pressure urban centers. The real test will be whether patients experience faster access, lower out-of-pocket costs, and better quality of care at participating hospitals.

Disclaimer: This article is based on official statements and reported program details. Patients should confirm eligibility, hospital participation, and treatment coverage through official channels before seeking services under the scheme.