For the first time in Punjab, the delay culture in the healthcare sector has been officially addressed, with a clear focus on timely and complete medical services. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting reviewing the progress of cardiology centers in Muree, Sahiwal, and Sargodha, emphasizing that no delay in treating heart patients will be tolerated.
The meeting highlighted the performance of 57 specialized hospitals across Punjab, which collectively serve millions of patients. These hospitals have provided 3.95 crore medical services, including 1.83 crore outpatient treatments, 1.56 crore emergency cases, 7.16 lakh surgeries, over 4.5 lakh CT scans, 1.43 lakh MRIs, 99,000+ angiographies, and 1.5 lakh echocardiograms. Free medicines worth Rs 1.92 billion were also distributed to patients.
Specifically, the Nawaz Sharif Cardiology Center in Muree is expected to be fully operational by mid-February, while the Sargodha Institute of Cardiology has registered 2,027 patients, handled over 10,000 OPD visits, and distributed 2.9 million free medicines. The Sahiwal Cardiology Institute treats around 180 patients daily, performing 59 angiographies, six angioplasties, and three bypass surgeries each day.
CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif issued strict directives to ensure that all required machinery and equipment are installed on time, recruitment of doctors and staff is completed promptly, and all cardiac surgery theaters are operational without delay. She underscored that a hospital, once built, must be fully functional with all facilities.
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The Chief Minister also praised Punjab’s healthcare initiatives, including children’s heart surgeries, transplant programs, and dialysis services, calling them key examples of efficient, patient-focused healthcare delivery.
With these measures, Punjab aims to eliminate delays in specialized healthcare, ensuring timely treatment, modern facilities, and high-quality services for millions of patients across the province.
