Free cancer treatment top priority: Kh Salman

LAHORE: Terming Gynecological cancer as a serious health problem in Pakistan, Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said that “every year many women lose their lives, the main reason for which is not timely diagnosis of the disease. ” “Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has launched a free cancer treatment programme with a budget of Rs 13 billion. Under this initiative, the Punjab government is bearing the cost of free treatment of cancer patients in selected private cancer hospitals and hospitals affiliated to the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission, ” Khawaja Salman said, adding “The Punjab CML Project has also been launched. The supply of cancer medicines has been increased as per the budget allocated in this financial year, which is of Rs 3 billion. ” While addressing the PGMI/AMC GynaeCon 2026 held at the General Hospital, the Health Minister said the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research in Lahore is a major project for the healthcare of cancer patients with a proposed capacity of 915 beds and approved cost of about Rs 74 billion. The institution will be developed in line with international best practices and will be supported by leading national and international consultants. To further strengthen the oncology infrastructure, a one hundred (100) bed cancer centre is being set up at Nishtar Hospital Multan with a cost of around Rs 4 billion, he said, adding: “A linear accelerator worth Rs 1 billion is being installed at Allied Hospital, Faisalabad. In addition, a cancer hospital is planned at D G Khan at an estimated cost of Rs 15 billion, which will further improve access to advanced cancer treatment services. ” According to him, the Punjab government is providing monthly stipends to Level 3 and Level 4 postgraduate trainees to strengthen cancer-specific training and improve health services. A total of Rs 188 million has been disbursed for this purpose. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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