PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has taken strict notice of the unannounced suspension of the Sehat Card (Health Card) services at Khyber Teaching Hospital (KTH), expressing anger over the eight-hour disruption that left patients without access to free medical treatment.

According to Geo News, the Chief Minister made an unplanned visit to the Khyber Teaching Hospital in Peshawar to personally inspect facilities, review healthcare delivery, and check on the functioning of the province’s flagship Sehat Card Plus program. During the visit, he was informed that the hospital had temporarily halted health card services without prior notice, preventing patients from receiving free medical care.

Sources within the hospital confirmed that the suspension lasted for nearly eight hours, reportedly due to a delay in system updates and administrative miscommunication between hospital management and the Sehat Card program’s operational wing. The Chief Minister, visibly displeased, ordered an immediate inquiry into the matter to identify those responsible for the lapse and ensure accountability.

“The health card program is the lifeline for thousands of families across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” said Chief Minister Afridi. “Any interruption in its services—especially without prior notice—is unacceptable. I want an explanation from the hospital administration and the health department within 24 hours.”

He further emphasized that uninterrupted healthcare under the Sehat Card must be ensured, reminding officials that the provincial government had already released sufficient funds to maintain the program. “All financial resources are in place. There is no justification for delaying treatment or denying services to patients in need,” he remarked.

The Chief Minister directed the Secretary Health and Hospital Board of Governors to conduct a detailed audit of the Sehat Card’s operations in major hospitals across the province. He also instructed that a real-time monitoring mechanism be established to prevent future disruptions and to ensure hospitals promptly inform authorities in case of technical or operational issues.

During his visit, Afridi toured several wards, including the emergency unit, outpatient departments, and surgical sections, where he interacted with patients and their attendants. Many patients complained of delays in treatment during the health card suspension, highlighting the importance of the government’s free healthcare initiative for low-income families.

Introduced under the Sehat Sahulat Program, the Sehat Card provides free medical treatment up to one million rupees per family per year across designated hospitals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The initiative has been widely praised for reducing the financial burden of medical care on poor and middle-class households.

However, periodic administrative lapses and funding delays have raised concerns among citizens about the program’s sustainability. Healthcare analysts note that better coordination between the State Life Insurance Corporation (which manages the scheme) and hospital administrations is critical to maintaining uninterrupted service delivery.

Following the Chief Minister’s directives, hospital management has reportedly restored Sehat Card services and pledged to ensure smoother coordination in the future. The Health Department of KP has also launched a review to identify systemic weaknesses in the implementation of the program.

In his concluding remarks, Chief Minister Sohail Afridi reaffirmed his government’s commitment to providing universal and uninterrupted healthcare access to every citizen in the province. “No one in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa should be denied treatment because of administrative negligence. The Sehat Card is a promise of dignity and care to our people, and we will protect that promise at all costs,” he stated firmly.