LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced on Thursday an additional allocation of Rs5 billion for stroke treatment and pledged to establish stroke centers, cardiac facilities, pediatric centers, and cancer hospitals at every divisional headquarters across the province.
According to Directorate General Public Relation – Govt of Punjab, the announcement was made during an event marking World Stroke Day at the Punjab Institute of Neurosciences. The chief minister emphasized that no stroke patient would be denied treatment due to a lack of funds and instructed officials to report any financial needs directly to her. She also highlighted the imminent commencement of heart transplant surgeries at the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology.
During her visit, the chief minister toured the institute’s intensive care unit and control room, observed neurosurgical procedures, and interacted with patients. She witnessed the rehabilitation of stroke patients through robotic physiotherapy, underscoring the importance of timely treatment within a critical four to five-hour window.
CM Punjab urged the public to recognize stroke symptoms like arm weakness or difficulty speaking and to seek immediate medical assistance, advising them to contact Rescue 1122 without delay. She noted that factors such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol increase stroke risk, stressing that symptoms should not be ignored.
The chief minister praised Rescue 1122 for transporting 85 stroke patients to centers in time, commending the rescue service and medical teams for their efforts. She acknowledged the prohibitive cost of the TNK injection used in stroke treatment and the challenges faced by patients traveling from distant districts like Rahim Yar Khan to Lahore.
Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique stated that Punjab has established 40 stroke centers, including 38 primary and two comprehensive centers. He reported that 2.6 million dialysis sessions and 2,400 cardiac surgeries had been performed in the province. The chief minister announced plans for 15 additional stroke centers and highlighted ongoing training efforts led by PINS Executive Director Dr. Asif Bashir and head of neurology Dr. Qasim Bashir.
She also detailed the expansion of cardiac services, with state-of-the-art catheterization laboratories planned in 20 districts, and noted that stroke treatment is available at several major hospitals, with services extending to additional facilities.
Furthermore, CM Punjab outlined plans for a pediatric center in every division to eliminate the need for parents to travel to Lahore for specialized treatment. A cancer hospital is being built in Lahore to provide free treatment to underprivileged patients, including a pain management center for advanced-stage cancer patients. The government is also developing specialized facilities for genetic and blood disorders and has spent 100 billion rupees on free medicines, serving 100 million people in government hospitals over the past year.
She reported that between 15,000 and 16,000 children, including those from other provinces, have undergone cardiac surgery in Punjab, with no child refused treatment based on residence. Thousands of patients have also benefited from expensive procedures, such as organ transplants.
Emphasizing accessible healthcare, the chief minister highlighted efforts to bring medical services to people’s doorsteps through field hospitals and provide treatment to industrial workers at factories to avoid loss of wages. She concluded by urging confidence in Pakistani doctors and healthcare institutions and reaffirmed the province’s commitment to enhancing the quality and accessibility of specialized medical care.