The Punjab government has decided to introduce special cards for cancer and cardiac patients, officials said. The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, aimed at enhancing access to healthcare for critical patients.
Under the Chief Minister’s special initiative, cancer patients will receive full financial support for treatment, with expenses of up to PKR 10 lakh covered under the CM Special Initiative Card. In the first phase, approximately 45,000 patients will benefit from the card.
Officials also briefed that the Cardiac Surgery Program Card will allow patients to receive free heart surgeries. The outpatient department (OPD) block at the Nawaz Sharif Institute for Cancer Treatment will be operational by January 17, while the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology in Sargodha has a deadline of January 31 for becoming fully functional.
Recruitment approvals have also been granted, with 219 positions at the Institute of Cancer Treatment and 258 positions at the Institute of Cardiology in Sargodha. The Jinnah Institute of Cardiology in Lahore will become functional from February 15, with 1,104 approved positions.
In addition, major hospitals across Punjab have been supplied with medicines worth PKR 1.99 billion to support patient care.
