LAHORE: The Punjab government has announced a major initiative to offer free treatment to cancer and heart patients across the province, providing significant relief for those unable to afford high medical costs.
Under this initiative, the provincial government will fully cover cancer treatment and cardiac surgeries, issuing a special card to eligible patients.
Following the directives of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, individuals diagnosed with cancer or heart disease will be granted a Special Initiative Card, entitling them to treatment worth up to Rs1 million at no cost.
In the first phase, 45,000 patients will benefit from the newly introduced card, helping alleviate the financial burden of costly medical treatments.
Maryam Nawaz also requested a detailed plan for the timely treatment of stroke and paralysis cases. She set a deadline of January 31 for the operationalization of the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology in Sargodha.
The Secretary of Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education briefed her on the progress of various health initiatives.
Earlier, Maryam Nawaz formally inaugurated the second phase of the Lahore Development Plan.
As part of this phase, 6,284 streets across Lahore will be fully upgraded. By June 30 next year, 5,798 streets under the Municipal Corporation and 486 streets under WASA will be modernized.
Maryam Nawaz emphasized that there will be no compromise on the quality of Lahore’s development and stressed that no delays will be tolerated in completing Phase II. She further assured that every part of Lahore will be restored to its full potential for its residents.
