No Cardiac Surgery Waiting List at FIC: Salman Rafique
Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has stated that the Punjab government’s special initiatives for cardiac patients have significantly improved access to timely treatment. All pending heart surgeries at the Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology (FIC) since 2025 have been completed, eliminating the current waiting list for cardiac surgeries at this institute.
During his visit to FIC, Rafique reviewed the implementation of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s free medicines program and inspected arrangements for providing essential medicines to patients. He also conducted a thorough inspection of fire safety measures at the cardiac institute, expressing satisfaction with the availability and functionality of fire hydrants and other safety protocols.
Rafique highlighted the successful progress of the Chief Minister’s special program for cardiac diseases, which has led to a substantial reduction in the surgery waiting list. Additionally, he noted that the government’s free medicines initiative has delivered medications free of cost to millions of patients at their doorsteps.
The health minister emphasized that providing free medicines to patients in public sector hospitals is a top priority of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. He instructed hospital administrations to prioritize fire safety arrangements, stressing the importance of patient and medical staff safety.
During his visit, Rafique also attended a five-day training session conducted by Rescue 1122 at FIC, where medical staff was being trained to handle emergencies effectively. He noted that health initiatives have advanced pediatric cardiac care, with over 1,500 children and more than 1,200 adult patients successfully undergoing heart surgeries in two phases.
Dr. Nadeem Akhtar, Medical Superintendent of FIC, confirmed that all pending heart surgeries had been completed since 2025, and there is currently no waiting list for cardiac surgery at the institute. He attributed these achievements to the health initiatives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
