Patients suffer as KP MTIs apply different formulas for utilisation of Sehat Card Plus income
PESHAWAR: Various medical teaching institutions (MTIs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been applying different formulas for distribution of the income generated through Sehat Card Plus unlike district headquarters hospitals, which follow the guidelines approved by the provincial cabinet. All district headquarters (DHQs) hospitals across the province have been following the “fund retention and…
PESHAWAR: Medical teaching institutions (MTIs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are employing different formulas for utilizing the income generated through Sehat Card Plus, which contrasts with the guidelines set by district headquarters hospitals. These DHQ hospitals have been adhering to the "fund retention and utilization formula" approved by the provincial cabinet in 2020 for distributing and utilizing funds from the province's free health initiative program.
However, the inconsistent approach among MTIs is causing inconvenience for patients. Senior doctors have expressed concerns over long waiting periods for patients seeking medical services on Sehat Card Plus due to the lesser share of income consultants receive. They also observe that MTIs prioritize patients preferring institutional-based practice (IBP) due to the larger income potential.
The discrepancy arises because MTIs operate under boards of governors devising individual formulas for income share distribution, while DHQ hospitals follow a government-approved mechanism. Some consultants have resigned in protest against this disparity, seeking employment in private hospitals where they receive higher salaries compared to MTIs.
The MTI-Policy Board, responsible for maintaining uniform policies across the 11 MTIs, is urged to adopt the DHQ hospital formula to alleviate the unrest among consultants. The approved formula allocates 25% of SCP income for service quality improvements, 20% for consumables, 30% for other doctors, 15% for nursing and paramedical staff, and 10% for administrative and auxiliary staff.
The government spends Rs41 billion on free medical treatment for over 10.8 million families at 172 empanelled hospitals. The program, initiated in 2015, has been extended province-wide and has witnessed an increase in the budget to Rs41 billion in 2026-27. However, patients increasingly opt for private hospitals for faster services on Sehat Card Plus, whereas consultants and staff argue that implementing the uniform formula would ensure fair sharing of income and improved patient care.
Prof Nausherwan Burki, the chairman of the Policy Board, confirmed that all MTIs have been informed of the uniform formula, emphasizing the commitment to ensuring the benefits of the free healthcare scheme reach the intended beneficiaries.
Written by urgent.news from Dawn - Pakistan's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
