The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government formally launched free Outpatient Department (OPD) services under the Sehat Card Plus program on February 19, 2025, which marks an important milestone for our research consortium.

The OPD scheme serves as an extension of the province’s existing inpatient health coverage and is intended to improve access to essential medical care. The announcement was made at the Chief Minister’s House in Peshawar, with Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur officiating the event, which was covered by multiple local news outlets, such as Dawn and The Express Tribune.

Under this initiative, patients will be able to receive medical consultations, diagnostic services, and essential medications at no cost. The rollout is being conducted in stages, starting with a pilot phase in Mardan district that aims to assist 50,000 households. Subsequent expansions are envisaged to include Chitral, Malakand, and Kohat districts, ultimately reaching around 120,000 households. Eligibility for the program is determined using data from the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP). The implementation of this project is being carried out in collaboration with the German development bank KfW and our research consortium is tasked to provide scientific evidence to all stakeholders.

While the Sehat Card Plus program has traditionally covered inpatient care at hospitals, this latest expansion brings OPD services to empaneled Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Centers (RHCs) at the union council level, significantly improving access to primary healthcare. The empanelment of public primary healthcare facilities was based on predetermined assessment criteria, which recommended 52 out of 57 facilities for empanelment. Discussions are still ongoing regarding the inclusion of private healthcare facilities. With this development, KP becomes the first province in Pakistan to offer free OPD services as part of a government-backed health insurance initiative.

The launch event saw the participation of key stakeholders, including senior government officials, SHPI program representatives, researchers from Khyber Medical University (KMU) and consultants from m4h. Despite the formal inauguration, the OPD services are not yet immediately available for public use. Essential technical preparations must first be completed before eligible individuals can register and access these services, with beneficiary registration scheduled to commence at the beginning of April.