Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid Sunday enumerated steps of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government for reforming the health sector, maintaining that more than six million people had so far been benefited from the government’s health card scheme, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, the health minister maintained that 98 percent people who were benefitted from the government’s health card scheme had expressed their satisfaction.

She lamented ‘unnecessary’ criticism of the health card scheme, saying that some people blamed the government for bringing forward the private sector hospitals. “Are these private hospitals India’s? They are also our hospitals. Besides, we are laying a network of public hospitals across Punjab. I request you to criticise but constructively” she added.

She also made reference to a report which states that 30 per cent people visit public hospitals for medical treatment, contrary to the 70 per cent population that opts for the private ones. “The PTI government, for the first time, brought this 70 per cent population into the health card circle and allocated Rs10 million each for their annual free treatment,” she added.

In the end, the health minister announced 25,000 new jobs in the health sector and 25,000 more in the next year.