Residents across Pakistan can now easily check whether they qualify for treatment under the Prime Minister’s Health Card program, as the government simplifies the eligibility verification process.

How to check eligibility

To confirm eligibility, citizens can send their CNIC number via SMS to 8500. Alternatively, they can visit the official health card website and enter their CNIC to instantly view their status. Authorities say the simplified process is aimed at ensuring maximum public access to the healthcare scheme.

Who is eligible

According to official guidelines, the program primarily targets low-income families. Applicants must have a CNIC registered with NADRA. Beneficiaries of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) are also included. Government employees and individuals frequently traveling abroad are generally not eligible under the scheme.

Benefits under the program

The Prime Minister’s Health Card offers substantial financial relief to eligible families. Each household can receive up to PKR50,000 annually for secondary healthcare and up to PKR250,000 for tertiary care.

Also Read: Kite flying allowed in Lahore on 6th under tight security

Treatment is available free of cost at a wide network of selected public and private hospitals across Pakistan. In addition, patients may receive a transport allowance of up to PKR350 during treatment.

Required documents

Patients are required to present their original CNIC at the hospital. A health card, if already issued, should also be brought along. For children, a B-Form or marriage certificate is required.

Under the Punjab government’s cost-sharing arrangement, eligible patients pay only 50% of treatment expenses, while the remaining cost is covered by the government. Officials say the initiative is a major step toward making quality healthcare affordable and accessible for vulnerable families nationwide.