PMA Lahore condemns exclusion of maternity services from Sehat Card

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Lahore has strongly condemned the Punjab government’s decision to exclude Gynecology and Obstetrics (maternity services) from the Sehat Card scheme, calling the move cruel, irresponsible, and deeply unjust.

These views were expressed during an emergency meeting of PMA Lahore, presided over by President Prof Dr Shahid Malik.

The meeting was attended by Prof Dr Ashraf Nizami, Dr Irm Shehzadi, Dr Wajid Ali, Dr Bushra Haq, Dr Ahmed Naeem Akhtar, and Dr Maryam Fatima.

The PMA Lahore office bearers declared the decision a grave injustice to poor women and a clear violation of the fundamental human right to health.

They warned that excluding gynecological and obstetric services would directly impact millions of underprivileged women, depriving them of essential care during pregnancy, childbirth, and treatment of female-specific illnesses.

The participants emphasized that most poor women cannot afford costly private healthcare.

Denial of maternity services under the Health Card scheme, they cautioned, would endanger maternal health and could lead to a sharp rise in maternal and child mortality across the province.

Excluding such a critical medical specialty, they said, contradicts the spirit and purpose of the program. Without prioritizing women’s health, the slogan “Health for All” becomes meaningless, they added.

The PMA urged Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to immediately withdraw this decision.