Punjab expands free healthcare, adds Peritoneal Dialysis

LAHORE: The Punjab government is accelerating implementation of landmark health initiatives, with free treatment worth more than Rs18.5 billion already provided to patients through empanelled hospitals under various special healthcare programmes.

The development was discussed at the 119th meeting of the Board of Directors of the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company (PHIMC), chaired by Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique.

The board formally approved the inclusion of peritoneal dialysis in the Chief Minister’s Dialysis Programme, marking another major expansion in free dialysis services for patients across the province.

Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department Azmat Mahmood participated through video link. Member Health P&D Shafaat Ali, Additional Secretary Finance Zubda Mubashir, Director PITB Nosheen Fayyaz, Board members Parveen Agha and Dr Shujaat Ali, CEO Punjab Healthcare Commission Dr Saqib Aziz, CEO PHIMC Dr Ali Razaq, and former DG Health Punjab and Board member Dr Zahid Pervez, among other officials, attended the meeting.

The board approved the minutes of its 118th meeting and also approved the engagement of a firm to obtain feedback on the Chief Minister’s various health initiatives.

Speaking at the meeting, Khawaja Salman Rafique said the Punjab government was taking historic and fundamental measures to strengthen healthcare services and ensure quality treatment for patients.

He said free treatment facilities worth more than Rs3 billion annually were being provided to heart patients under the Chief Minister’s Adult Cardiac Surgery Programme. Similarly, the Chief Minister’s Special Initiative for Cancer Patients was providing free diagnosis, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgical and medical treatment at an annual cost of around Rs13 billion.

Under the Chief Minister’s Special Initiative for Stroke Management, free treatment facilities worth more than Rs3 billion annually are being provided to stroke patients, he added.

The minister said more than 15,446 children had so far undergone free heart surgeries across Punjab under the Chief Minister’s Children’s Heart Surgery Programme.

The programme has also extended treatment to children from other regions, including 645 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 395 from Azad Kashmir, 143 from Islamabad, 45 from Balochistan, 60 from Gilgit-Baltistan and 35 from Sindh.

Under the Chief Minister’s Special Initiative for Transplant Programme, a total of 2,628 transplants have so far been performed, including 1,242 renal, 875 cochlear, 395 liver, 60 bone marrow and 56 corneal transplants.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said more than 2.295 million dialysis procedures had been provided free of cost under the Chief Minister’s Dialysis Programme, while more than 48,406 patients had been registered at hospitals for dialysis so far.

Under the Chief Minister’s Special Initiative for Cancer Patients, more than 42,196 patients have been registered at PAEC and other empanelled hospitals. More than 125,943 cancer patients have so far received free treatment under the programme.

The minister further said more than 9,007 patients had been enrolled in the Chief Minister’s Cardiac Surgery Programme, while 1,835 patients had already undergone free heart surgeries under the Adult Cardiac Surgery Programme.

He reiterated that all available resources were being utilised to provide the people of Punjab with the best possible healthcare facilities.

Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department Azmat Mahmood directed empanelled hospitals to ensure maximum facilities for patients. He said hospitals had been instructed to resolve patients’ problems on a priority basis and improve service delivery.

One-Day Healthcare Delivery Report

Meanwhile, the Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Department Punjab has released the one-day service delivery report for September 7.
According to the report, 198,637 patients received medical services in a single day at 57 government hospitals across Punjab.

Of these, 137,997 patients were provided OPD services, while 60,640 patients received emergency medical care.

The report stated that 2,221 surgeries were performed in one day, while hospitals conducted 693 CT scans, 1,959 MRIs and 454 angiographies.

Diagnostic tests were conducted for 77,800 patients, while free medicines worth Rs59.8 million were provided to patients during the day.

The Punjab government has reiterated its commitment to expanding access to quality healthcare and ensuring that patients receive timely and free treatment through its major health initiatives.