All treatments to be free under health card, says Salman

LAHORE : Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said that the health card will be further improved and treatment of all diseases will be free. The poor and middle class citizens will be treated free-of-cost through the card, while the rich people will have to pay some premium.

He said this while addressing a meeting regarding the health card in the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department on Tuesday. The latest reform measures for the improvement of the Health Insurance Programme were reviewed during the meeting. Addressing the meeting, Khawaja Salman said that the health card programme for more than 120 million people of Punjab would be continued uninterrupted.

Meanwhile, Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique also chaired a syndicate meeting of Faisalabad Medical University in the Department of Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education.

During the syndicate meeting, Faisalabad Medical University was allowed to purchase anesthesia machines and ventilators for Allied Hospital 2 Faisalabad. Funds were also approved for the repair and maintenance of various departments of Faisalabad Teaching Hospital. Nawaz Sharif cancer hospital to be completed in two phases

Level 3 and 4 cancer patients to get free treatment at NSICTRC

Provincial Minister for Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafique said that level three and four cancer patients will also be treated free of charge at Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research Centre (NSICTRC).

Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique share this detail while addressing a meeting of the Health Advisory Committee along with Khawaja Imran Nazir in Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department on Tuesday. He informed that this 915-bedded cancer hospital will be completed in two phases. The cancer institute will have pediatric oncology, operation theaters, 10-radiation therapy bunkers, ICU and a 30-bed emergency ward. A waiting hall and 24 beds will also be built along with a residential area for the patients. He said that the main building will be having a bone marrow centre, cancer care clinic, doctor’s quarters and a mosque in the first phase. Khawaja Salman said that in the second phase, a new building with 300 beds and a parking plaza will also be built. The first govt cancer hospital will provide free treatment to patients coming from KPK, Sindh and other provinces. A target of twelve months has been given for the completion of the first phase of the cancer hospital.

He informed that specialised hospitals for blood diseases, PEADs, organ transplants and bone marrow will also be built in the province. We want to build cardiology, neurology, PEADs and dialysis centres in every city. Provincial Minister for Primary and Secondary Healthcare Khawaja Imran Nazir said that radiotherapy, chemotherapy, endoscopy and other facilities will be available in the first government cancer hospital. Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital is not only a project of Punjab but of the entire country. No cancer patient will be denied treatment. Khawaja Imran said that this cancer hospital will be the first modern hospital of its kind in the public sector. CM Punjab has given strict instructions to the health department for the early completion of this hospital, he added.

Meanwhile, Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique and Secretary Health Punjab Azmat Mahmood met with Punjab Institute of Cardiology Executive Director Prof Dr Bilal Mohiuddin. Prof Bilal Mohiuddin briefed on the medical facilities provided to the patients at PIC. On this occasion, Provincial health minister directed the PIC Executive Director to create more facilities for the patients. The Punjab government is taking basic steps in the health sector for the people, he added.