LAHORE: The Punjab government has approved Rs9.1 billion for clearing outstanding payments for medicines and disposables in government teaching hospitals across the province, officials said on Friday.
Following cabinet approval, the Finance Department released a first tranche of Rs4.5 billion, which has been transferred to the accounts of teaching hospitals to settle overdue bills and restore an uninterrupted supply of essential drugs and disposables, the Health Department said.
A department spokesperson said the provincial administration intended to stabilise hospital inventories and ensure patients do not face shortages of critical medical supplies.
Earlier, Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique directed authorities to maintain uninterrupted provision of medicines to registered cardiac patients at the Nawaz Sharif Cardiology Centre Samli Murree, the Sahiwal Institute of Cardiology and the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology Sargodha.
He issued the instructions while chairing a meeting at the Department of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education to review the supply of free medicines to cancer and heart patients.
Rafique said the home-delivery project for free medicines was functioning effectively, supported by an online dashboard that tracks parcels delivered through Pakistan Post. From January to October 2025, more than 522,000 cancer and cardiac patients were registered under the programme, he added.
He said the provincial government, under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, aimed to provide improved healthcare access, noting that patients in densely populated areas had expressed satisfaction with doorstep delivery.
Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Azmat Mahmood Khan told the meeting that free medicines were also being delivered in remote regions and that the programme had been expanded to rural districts.
Special Secretary Development Benish Fatima Sahi, Deputy Secretary Procurement Murad Ali, PITB official Nousheen Fayyaz, Deputy Director Abdul Mateen, Chief Postmaster Lahore Huma and other officials attended the meeting.
