Punjab govt’s flagship health projects benefit over 21m patients

LAHORE: Six flagship health projects launched under the Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif have achieved remarkable success, delivering healthcare services to millions across Punjab. Field hospitals, Clinics on Wheels, free home delivery of medicines, revamped health centres, community health inspectors, and the stroke management programme continue to serve the public. As per details, over 21 million patients have benefited from field hospitals and Clinics on Wheels, while more than 30, 000 patients suffering from diabetes, hepatitis and tuberculosis have received free medicines at their homes. A total of 1, 217 health centres have been revamped, while construction and rehabilitation work on 895 centres is underway in Phase III. Community health inspectors have registered over 63 million individuals across Punjab. Cardiac catheterisation (cath lab) projects are successfully operational in four district hospitals, where 1, 628 procedures have been completed in Jhelum, Jhang, Mianwali and Vehari. Across the province, 251 surveillance assistants are digitally monitoring and tracking district and tehsil hospitals as well as health centres. A detailed report on the restructuring of the Health and Population Department was presented, with the chief minister expressing satisfaction over performance and appreciating the efforts of the secretary and her team. During a special meeting chaired by the chief minister, Secretary Health and Population Nadia Saqib briefed participants on the progress of health projects. The chief minister directed steps for establishing stroke management centres in district hospitals and ordered an increase in seats for nursing degrees in public hospitals. The briefing revealed that Clinics on Wheels have treated 18. 2 million patients, conducted 7 million ultrasounds, and administered vaccinations to 1. 2 million children. Field hospitals received 2. 8 million patients, conducted 448, 468 lab tests, and carried out 170, 772 X-rays and ultrasounds. Under the home delivery initiative, 2, 242 diabetes patients are receiving insulin for two months at a time, while 14, 286 hepatitis and 13, 864 tuberculosis patients are also being provided medicines at home. In Phase I, 1, 026 Basic Health Units (BHUs) and 191 Rural Health Centres (RHCs) were revamped into modern facilities. In Phase II, 433 BHUs and 81 RHCs were upgraded. Phase III includes ongoing work on 895 health centres. Community health inspectors have collected data on 8 million households and 10 million homes, while the department’s GIS team has completed mapping of 58, 571 areas. In four district hospitals, 1, 055 angiographies, 559 angioplasties, 12 primary PCIs, and two temporary pacemakers have been performed. Officials informed the meeting that treatment begins within an average of five minutes of a patient’s arrival at hospitals. The chief minister directed that the revamping of health centres be completed within the current year and reiterated the need to expand nursing education capacity in public sector hospitals. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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