In a National Assembly session on Thursday, chaired by Speaker Ayaz Sadiq, the concerning rise in mental health issues in Pakistan was prominently discussed. The Ministry of Health presented alarming statistics, revealing that over 80 million people in the country suffer from various psychological problems. Despite the presence of psychiatric treatment facilities in all major hospitals and the operation of mental health departments in 126 medical colleges, the extent of mental health issues remains troubling.
During the session, Rai Hasan Nawaz raised concerns about the suspension of health card services that were introduced under the previous PTI government. He suggested that political motives might have influenced the decision to halt these services, which were meant to enhance public access to healthcare.
Federal Minister Jam Kamal responded to these concerns by clarifying that the government had not discontinued any services for political reasons. He explained that the health card services in Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan were suspended due to irregularities in the card processing system. Kamal assured the Assembly that steps are being taken to address these issues and restore the services. This follows a recent meeting with State Life Insurance, aimed at resolving the problems and ensuring the services can be resumed effectively.
The session highlighted the pressing need for continued focus on mental health and the importance of addressing administrative issues to maintain essential healthcare services. The government’s commitment to resolving these issues and improving mental health care across the country was emphasized as a priority moving forward.
