Stroke Management Programme: CM sets example of compassionate healthcare

LAHORE: The Stroke Management Program launched under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif has emerged as a remarkable example of public service and compassionate healthcare, saving lives during Eid-ul-Fitr. During the festive days, four individuals, including a woman, suffered severe stroke attacks in Lahore but were successfully treated in time at the Services Hospital Stroke Management Centre. Thanks to the prompt response of the neurology team and the administration of the life-saving TNK injection, all four patients recovered from the severe effects of stroke within hours, avoiding both loss of life and permanent disability. The patients—75-year-old Muhammad Akhtar, 70-year-old Talat Mahmood, 63-year-old Shareefa Bibi, and 50-year-old Amanat Ali—received immediate emergency care upon arrival. Their families expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Chief Minister and the medical team, acknowledging that such expensive treatment would have been otherwise unaffordable. One patient shared that he could not have managed the cost of the injection without government support, while another attendant praised the exceptional care provided during a critical moment on Eid. According to Dr Muhammad Adnan Aslam, Head of the Neurology Department, symptoms of stroke include blurred vision, facial distortion, speech difficulty, imbalance, and weakness in limbs, and patients must be brought to the nearest stroke centre within the critical “golden hours” of three to four hours. Under the CM Punjab directives, the Specialized Healthcare Department is providing these costly injections free of charge. Currently, 14 stroke management centres are operational across Punjab, with plans underway to establish such facilities in every district. The Chief Minister reaffirmed that timely medical treatment is the fundamental right of every citizen, and the government remains committed to ensuring access to life-saving healthcare for all. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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