LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has launched the Punjab Health Connect Programme, a unique and visionary initiative aimed at enhancing the quality of healthcare services across the province.
Under the programme, leading overseas Pakistani and foreign specialist doctors and surgeons will provide free medical treatment in government hospitals across Punjab. The initiative has been launched on the directions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to strengthen the public healthcare system through international medical collaboration.
Besides offering specialised medical services, the visiting doctors and surgeons will also train local healthcare professionals in advanced medical techniques and modern clinical practices, contributing to capacity building within the provincial health sector.
Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that providing healthcare facilities of international standards in Punjab’s public hospitals is a firm commitment of her government. She added that the provincial healthcare system is being transformed in accordance with global standards.
She further said that the Punjab Health Connect Programme will help address the shortage of specialist doctors in government hospitals by bringing international medical expertise and experience to the province.
It may be added that the Punjab Health Connect Programme has been launched under the Punjab Local Hiring Act 2025, which aims to provide world-class medical expertise in areas where there is a shortage of specialist doctors. The experts under this programme will perform modern and complex treatments and surgeries, as well as provide practical training in modern medical treatments, new technology and professional skills to local doctors, surgeons, nurses and other medical staff. This programme will not only provide world-class medical facilities to patients but will also significantly improve the medical capacity, expertise and quality of treatment in government hospitals.
A modern online portal named www.punjab healthconnect.gov.pk has also been introduced for the transparent and effective management of the programme has been launched, where all the steps including registration, document verification, placement, payments and performance monitoring will be done completely under a digital system.
Specialist doctors from all over the world who have at least three years of clinical experience after fellowship can apply. The minimum period of service has been fixed at seven days. Specialists will be able to serve individually or with their complete clinical team, including nursing and other supporting medical staff.
In the first phase, eight super specialties are being introduced in 12 tertiary care hospitals of Punjab. These hospitals include Ortho, Cardiac, Aesthetics, Burns, Institute of Neurosciences Lahore, Multan and Children’s Hospitals of Faisalabad. All medical services and treatments provided under the programme will be completely free for the patients.
Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said that “Punjab Health Connect” is a practical manifestation of the vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif that every citizen of Punjab should have access to world-class medical facilities in their own province. Through this programme, the expertise of Pakistani-origin and international medical experts serving around the world is being transferred to the people of Punjab. Under this programme, not only will the treatment of complex diseases improve, but the professional skills of local doctors will also be significantly enhanced.
“Punjab Health Connect” programme will prove to be an important milestone towards further strengthening the health system of the province and providing quality, modern and equitable medical facilities to every citizen through medical expertise, modern technology and knowledge exchange.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026