Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Over Rs28 billion in irregularities uncovered in Sehat Insaf Card Program

Peshawar: An audit report by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department has revealed financial irregularities exceeding Rs28.61 billion in the Sehat Insaf Card program between 2018 and 2021.

According to the report, unregistered private hospitals received illegal payments worth billions of rupees. In Swat alone, two unregistered hospitals were paid over Rs1 billion each. Additionally, several hospitals were added to the program’s panel without justification.

Out of 48 hospitals across 10 districts, 17 were not registered under the Sehat Card panel but still received payments. The report also highlights overstaffing in 32 DHQ hospitals, causing a financial loss of Rs824 million to the provincial treasury.

The audit further notes that the Central Management Information System (CMIS)—a joint initiative of the Health Department and NADRA—scheduled for launch in March 2022, has not yet been implemented.

Moreover, incomplete data of patients benefiting from the Sehat Card raises serious concerns over the program’s transparency and accountability.