Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz Vows to Revamp Healthcare System Amid Growing Challenges
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has voiced serious concerns over the dire state of healthcare in the province, highlighting issues such as the theft of medicines and outsourcing of medical tests in government hospitals.
Speaking at a ceremony in Lahore, Maryam Nawaz shared her government’s initiatives to tackle these challenges. “Every day brings a new hurdle. Medicines are being stolen from hospitals, and patients are forced to get tests done externally. This is unacceptable, and we are committed to fixing it,” she stated.
She also acknowledged the mounting pressure on healthcare services for Punjab’s 140 million residents, adding that the system’s inadequacies were a source of great concern for her. “The state of healthcare keeps me up at night. Our facilities fall far short of what our people deserve,” she admitted.
Maryam Nawaz criticized past governments for neglecting healthcare, noting that during her father’s tenure as Prime Minister, the availability of free medicines in hospitals plummeted from 90% to 30%. She also revealed that the tradition of providing free medicines was discontinued during Shahbaz Sharif’s leadership, with even cancer treatments halted.
However, the Chief Minister assured the public of her commitment to reversing these setbacks. “We have revived free medicines in hospitals and are actively ensuring their availability during my visits,” she said.
Maryam Nawaz condemned the lack of accountability in the healthcare sector, pointing to security staff demanding bribes for hospital admissions and the systemic theft of medicines. “It is shocking that even the poorest patients are denied their rightful treatment due to corruption,” she remarked.
To address these challenges, the Chief Minister unveiled several initiatives, including mobile health clinics that have already served over 7 million people, free home delivery of medicines for cancer, hepatitis, and heart diseases, and the construction of a modern heart disease hospital in Punjab.
She also announced the establishment of the Nawaz Institute of Cardiology in Sargodha to provide advanced cardiac care to a previously underserved region. Additionally, renovations of 1,250 primary healthcare centers are set to be completed this month, with plans to upgrade all 2,500 centers across the province.
Maryam Nawaz further emphasized her commitment to introducing cutting-edge cancer treatments in Pakistan, inspired by her recent visit to China. “The construction of Pakistan’s first government cancer treatment hospital is progressing rapidly, and bringing modern cancer care to our country will be a significant milestone,” she shared.
Despite acknowledging the scale of the challenges, Maryam Nawaz pledged to overhaul Punjab’s healthcare system step by step, ensuring that quality medical care becomes accessible to all.
