Islamabad: A Senate sub-committee has begun examining a proposed cashless health insurance scheme for Senate Secretariat employees, with the aim of ensuring that the plan remains affordable, transparent and free of unnecessary hurdles.
The proposal may cover around 1,300 employees of the Senate Secretariat and more than 7,400 dependents. It was taken up during a meeting of the Sub Committee of the Executive Committee of the Senate Secretariat Employees Welfare Fund at Parliament House. The meeting was convened by Senator Aamir Waliuddin Chishti.
Senators Samina Mumtaz Zehri, Anusha Rahman and Shahzaib Durrani attended the meeting along with senior officials of the Senate Secretariat and Financial Advisor to the Chairman Senate Aizaz Khan.
The committee reviewed the current medical facilities available to employees and discussed a possible insurance framework to improve access to treatment for employees and their families across all pay grades.
Members considered preliminary insurance premium estimates and projected costs for a period of at least five years. They directed that possible premium increases, inflationary impact and annual claim ratios should be carefully reviewed before the scheme is finalised, in order to safeguard public funds.
The panel also underlined the need for a detailed examination of the terms being offered by insurance companies before entering into any agreement. Members said access to hospital treatment should be smooth, particularly in medical emergencies, and the policy should not include restrictions that could create difficulties for employees.
Under the proposed cashless system, covered employees and their dependents would not ordinarily be required to make direct payments at the time of approved hospital treatment, subject to the final terms of the policy.
The meeting also discussed the need to align internal Senate service rules with the proposed insurance arrangement. Members observed that clear rules would help prevent duplicate claims and make the system easier to manage.
The sub-committee will continue deliberations and prepare a comprehensive recommendation report within the stipulated timeframe.
