Pakistan, Aug. 11 -- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Health Card scheme is under investigation after a report by the Auditor General revealed financial irregularities worth over Rs28 billion from 2017-18 to 2021-22. The findings raise serious questions about transparency and management in the province's health sector.

The audit exposed that 17 out of 48 hospitals listed under the scheme were not registered with the Health Care Commission, yet they still received payments. For example, in Swat district, Anwar Hospital and Kings International Hospital were paid over Rs128 million despite lacking registration.

State Life Insurance Corporation, which manages the scheme, was paid around Rs2.77 billion during this period but did not deduct the mandatory...