Free-of-cost Heart Surgeries Performed On Over 6,000 Children

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LAHORE : A meeting was held in the Specialised Health Care and Medical Education Department under the chairmanship of Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique and Secretary Health Azmat Mahmood regarding the Chief Minister’s Children’s Heart Surgery Programme.

During the meeting, a detailed review of the programme was held.

Khawaja Salman Rafique was briefed on the monitoring framework, service delivery and steps taken for the convenience of the patients.

During the meeting, the report of the Special Monitoring Unit based on public feedback regarding the CM’s children’s heart surgery programme was also reviewed.

Health minister stressed the importance of ensuring transparency in this flagship programme, improving the quality of service and ensuring the convenience of the patients.

The minister said that maximum facilities should be provided to patients in the hospitals of the Punjab. Instructions have been given to resolve the problems faced by patients in the hospitals on a priority basis.

More than 6,000 children’s free-of-charge heart surgeries have been performed so far, the minister added.

The meeting was attended by Special Secretary Operations Tariq Mahmood, Vice Chancellor University of Child Health Sciences Prof Masood Sadiq, CEO Punjab Health Initiative Management Company Dr Ali Razaq and other officers. Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, Wazirabad Institute of Cardiology, Executive Director Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi Institute of Cardiology Multan, Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology and other officials participated through video link.

Meanwhile, a meeting regarding the Nawaz Sharif Medical District was also held in the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department under the chairmanship of Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique and Secretary Health Azmat Mahmood. During the meeting, a detailed overview of the Nawaz Sharif Medical District project was presented. A review was conducted. Health Secretary Azmat Mahmood informed about the latest progress on the project.

Salman Rafique said that under the vision of the CM, the government has launched revolutionary and historic projects worth billions of rupees in the health sector.

Under the Nawaz Sharif Medical District Project, Children’s Hospital 2 and Institute of Genetic and Blood Diseases, Institute of Surgical, Orthopedic and Medical Rehabilitation, Centre of Excellence for Nursing Education, Specialised Medical Hospital, 1,000-bed cardiac hospital, medical university and state-of-the-art diagnostic lab will be built in Lahore. IDAP has been directed to start work on all new health projects expeditiously.

Published in The News on August 21, 2025.
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