Punjab Expands Free Healthcare Initiatives Under CM Programmes
The Punjab government is taking major steps to implement historic and transformative initiatives in the health sector, with free treatment worth more than Rs18.5 billion provided so far to patients under various special healthcare programmes through empanelled hospitals.
Key Highlights:
- Chief Minister’s Dialysis Programme: The board approved the inclusion of peritoneal dialysis in this programme.
- Flagship Health Projects: The meeting reviewed various flagship health projects initiated by the Chief Minister.
- Public Feedback: A firm has been engaged to obtain public feedback on these initiatives.
Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique emphasized that fundamental measures are being taken to improve healthcare facilities across the province, utilizing all available resources.
He highlighted the following initiatives:
- Chief Minister’s Adult Cardiac Surgery Programme: Provides free treatment facilities worth over Rs3 billion annually to heart patients.
- Chief Minister’s Special Initiative for Cancer Patients: Offers free diagnostic tests, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgical procedures, and medical treatment at an annual cost of approximately Rs13 billion.
- Chief Minister’s Special Initiative for Stroke Management: Provides free treatment worth over Rs3 billion annually to stroke patients.
- Chief Minister’s Children’s Heart Surgery Programme: Over 15,446 children have undergone free cardiac surgeries across Punjab. The programme has also assisted children from other provinces.
- Chief Minister’s Transplant Programme: 2,628 transplants have been performed, including kidney, cochlear, liver, bone marrow, and corneal transplants.
- Chief Minister’s Dialysis Programme: Over 2.295 million dialysis sessions have been provided free of charge.
