Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced an additional Rs5 billion to strengthen stroke treatment facilities across the province, assuring that no patient would be denied medical care due to financial constraints.
She also revealed that heart transplant surgeries would soon begin at the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology.
Speaking at an event organised to mark World Stroke Day at the Punjab Institute of Neurosciences (PINS), the chief minister directed officials to inform her directly about any additional financial requirements to ensure uninterrupted treatment for stroke patients.
During her visit, Maryam Nawaz inspected the institute’s intensive care unit and control room, observed neurosurgical procedures from the operating theatre gallery and interacted with patients. She also reviewed the rehabilitation process, including the use of robotic physiotherapy for stroke survivors.
The chief minister stressed that timely medical intervention was crucial in stroke cases, explaining that patients generally have a four-to-five-hour window during which prompt treatment can significantly improve recovery prospects.
She urged the public not to ignore early warning signs, including weakness in the arms and difficulty speaking, and advised people to immediately seek medical assistance by calling Rescue 1122.
Maryam Nawaz also highlighted high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and elevated cholesterol as major risk factors associated with strokes.
She said Rescue 1122 had helped save the lives of 85 stroke patients by transporting them to specialised stroke centres in time.
The chief minister noted that the high cost of Tenecteplase (TNK) injections, commonly used in stroke treatment, made them unaffordable for many families. She also pointed out that patients from distant districts, including Rahim Yar Khan, faced additional difficulties travelling to Lahore to receive specialised care.
She said establishing stroke treatment facilities in different parts of Punjab would enable patients to access timely medical assistance closer to their homes.
Maryam Nawaz announced plans to establish 15 additional stroke centres across the province. She added that PINS Executive Director Dr Asif Bashir and Head of Neurology Dr Qasim Bashir were training doctors and nurses to improve the availability of specialised stroke care.
Separately, Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) President Ali Hussam met Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to discuss issues affecting the business community.
During the meeting, the chief minister assured him that the provincial government would take all possible steps to address the concerns of traders and industrialists.
She said Punjab’s digital transformation was progressing rapidly to create a more business-friendly environment and highlighted the introduction of the e-Biz initiative to facilitate traders, investors and industrialists.
Maryam Nawaz added that the government was working to eliminate bureaucratic obstacles and red tape to encourage investment and accelerate industrial development across the province.
