DLP Report
PESHAWAR
The repeated closure and delayed release of the reserve fund at the Institute of Kidney Diseases (IKD) has disrupted free treatment for hundreds of kidney patients in Peshawar.
The reserve fund meant to support patients whose Sehat Card Plus allocation has been exhausted.
The reserve fund was considered a last financial safeguard for dialysis patients once the fixed amount of Rs400,000 under the Sehat Card Plus scheme was fully utilised.
However, delays in its release were forcing patients to bear treatment expenses from their own pockets.
An official of the organisation providing Sehat Card facilities said that funds under the reserve mechanism were released to the State Life Insurance Company two days ago, adding that additional payments would be made for patients whose allocated amount had been exhausted.
He said the release of the reserve fund was carried out on a patient’s request, which was submitted through the concerned hospital.
Responding to queries, the official attributed delays to administrative and office-related procedures, stating that the process required time to complete.
Relatives of affected patients, however, said that once the Sehat Card limit runs out, they are forced to pay thousands of rupees for each dialysis session, while travel expenses further compound their financial burden.
Syed Muhammad Khan, a resident of Darra Adamkhel, said he had been paying for his mother’s dialysis treatment from his own pocket for the past two months, describing the situation as extremely difficult.
Similarly, Sajid Afridi from Landi Kotal said only a small amount remained in his mother’s health card, forcing him to borrow money from relatives to continue treatment.
He added that delays of several weeks in the transfer of reserve funds adversely affected patients’ treatment schedules.
