LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said people come to Punjab in search of better living conditions and employment opportunities, highlighting the provincial government’s healthcare initiatives during a ceremony to distribute stroke cards.
Addressing the event in Lahore, Maryam Nawaz stressed that timely treatment is critical for stroke patients and said no patient should be denied medical care because of a lack of funds.
She said the injection used in stroke treatment costs around Rs300,000, making it unaffordable for many low-income families. According to the chief minister, the Punjab government has established 40 stroke centres in recent months, where patients can receive the injection free of charge.
Maryam Nawaz also highlighted several healthcare infrastructure projects, including the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology in Lahore and a state-of-the-art hospital in Sargodha. She said a cancer hospital in Lahore would become operational soon, while cancer centres were being established in every division.
The provincial government is also setting up health laboratories in 20 districts, she added.
Speaking about healthcare services, the chief minister claimed that 100 million people had received treatment at government hospitals over the past year and that free medicines had been provided to 100 million people. She also said that 16,000 children had undergone heart surgery in Punjab.
Maryam Nawaz said the healthcare sector was receiving more attention than ever before, emphasising the government’s efforts to expand access to treatment and improve medical facilities across the province.