Free Treatment for Cancer, Stroke, and Heart Patient. The approval was granted by the board of the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company (PHIMC) during a high-level meeting chaired by Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique.
Free Cancer Treatment Programme in Punjab
Under the chief minister’s special healthcare initiative, cancer patients will receive completely free medical care at government-approved hospitals.
What the Cancer Programme Covers
The programme includes:
- Free diagnosis and screening
- Chemotherapy services
- Radiotherapy treatment
- Surgical procedures
- Medical and follow-up care
According to officials, the provincial government will spend Rs. 13 billion annually on cancer treatment alone. This initiative is expected to benefit thousands of patients who previously could not afford costly oncology care.
Stroke Patients to Receive Free Life-Saving Treatment
The Punjab government has also approved free treatment for stroke patients, with an estimated annual cost of over Rs. 1.2 billion.
TNK Injection Provided Free of Cost
A key feature of the stroke management programme is the free provision of the TNK injection, a life-saving clot-buster medicine that costs around Rs. 300,000 per dose in the private market.
Official data shows that more than 700 stroke patients recovered across Punjab during the past year due to timely treatment under this programme.
Stroke Management Centres Across Punjab
Currently, 14 dedicated stroke management centres are operational across the province. These centres ensure immediate diagnosis and rapid administration of treatment.
Hospitals Offering Stroke Treatment
Major centres include:
- Services Hospital, Lahore
- General Hospital, Lahore
- Mayo Hospital, Lahore
- Nishtar Hospital, Multan
- Sheikh Zayed Hospital, Rahim Yar Khan
Additional stroke centres have been established in:
- Rawalpindi
- Sialkot
- Gujranwala
- Narowal
- Dera Ghazi Khan
- Layyah
Authorities have also directed officials to expand stroke services to more districts in the coming months.
Free Heart Treatment Under Chief Minister’s Programmes
The Punjab government continues to invest heavily in cardiac care through two major initiatives.
Adult Cardiac Surgery Programme
Under the Chief Minister’s Adult Cardiac Surgery Programme, patients receive free heart surgeries and treatment, costing the provincial government around Rs. 3 billion annually.
Children’s Heart Surgery Programme
The Chief Minister’s Children’s Heart Surgery Programme has already delivered remarkable results.
So far, 9,648 children have received free heart surgeries across Punjab.
Patients from Other Regions
The programme has also treated children from outside Punjab, including:
- 391 from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa
- 234 from Azad Kashmir
- 101 from Islamabad
- 28 from Balochistan
- 31 from Gilgit-Baltistan
- 25 from Sindh
The total cost of this programme has reached billions of rupees, fully funded by the provincial government.
Free Organ Transplant Services in Punjab
In addition to cancer, stroke, and heart care, the Punjab government has also provided free organ transplant services under another major healthcare initiative.
Total Free Transplants Performed
A total of 1,151 organ transplants have been carried out free of charge, including:
- 613 kidney transplants
- 315 cochlear implants
- 185 liver transplants
- 16 bone marrow transplants
- 22 corneal transplants
These services have given new life to patients who otherwise could not afford such complex procedures.
Improving Patient Experience at Empanelled Hospitals
During the PHIMC board meeting, the provincial secretary concerned confirmed that special instructions have been issued to address complaints and operational issues faced by patients at empanelled hospitals.
The focus is on:
- Faster service delivery
- Better coordination
- Improved patient care
- Transparent handling of cases
Why This Decision Matters
Punjab’s approval of free treatment for cancer, stroke, and heart patients represents one of the largest public healthcare commitments in Pakistan. With rising medical costs, these initiatives provide real relief to low- and middle-income families.
By expanding treatment centres and funding critical services, the government aims to ensure that no patient is denied care due to lack of money.
Conclusion
The Punjab government’s decision to provide free cancer, stroke, heart, and transplant treatments marks a major milestone in public healthcare reform. Through PHIMC-managed programmes, billions of rupees are being invested annually to save lives and improve medical access across the province.
