ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Thursday launched an ambitious ‘PM’s National Health Programme’ to provide free medical treatment to the poorest of the poor at public and private hospitals. “It is a step forward towards making Pakistan a real welfare state,” the prime minister said at the launching ceremony of the programme. The programme aimed at providing quality healthcare has been launched in 15 districts and would be later expanded to 23 in next phase. Around 1.2 million card holder families would get this facility in the first phase. “We fully realise our responsibility, as we believe that a healthy nation was the key to a prosperous developed Pakistan,” Nawaz said. He said under the programme the card holders will be able to get free medical treatment and medicines up to Rs 300,000 at the designated public and private hospitals. However, the prime minister said, for those who still need treatment and were hospitalised could be provided additional funding for up to Rs 300,000 more through Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal. In this regard, the prime minister directed Finance Minister Ishaq Dar to look into the matter and said if required, the funding for the Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal would be further enhanced. The programme to be launched with the cooperation of State Life corporation and NADRA would provide indoor treatment and admission to hospitals for the ailing. The diseases covered in the programme are treatment for: heart, including angioplasty and heart bypass, diabetes and related complications, traffic accident and burn injuries including life and organ saving treatment, cancer including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery, complications related to renal failure and dialysis and complications related to chronic infections: hepatitis, HIV, liver, kidney and heart failure. The prime minister said the hospitals participating in the program would be upgraded and provided necessary medical equipment. He, however, warned that any medical staff treating the patients covered under the program in a non-professional manner and against the medical ethics would be dealt with strictly. “No staff would be tolerated who tries to create any obstacle in the smooth functioning of the program,” the prime minister said. “It is an important issue dealing with health of our citizens,” he added. The prime minister said the Ministry of National Health Services and all stakeholders need to understand that this is a great cause and needs hard work to succeed. “We have to make it a success at all costs,” he reminded. He said a lot of hard work has been put in and recalled the marathon meetings held over a span of one-and-a-half years.