LAHORE: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Thursday announced an additional Rs 5 billion for stroke treatment and pledged to establish stroke centres, cardiac facilities, paediatric centres and cancer hospitals at every divisional headquarters across the province.
She also announced that heart transplant surgeries would begin soon at the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology.
Speaking at an event marking World Stroke Day at the Punjab Institute of Neurosciences (PINS), the chief minister said no stroke patient would be denied treatment due to a shortage of funds, directing officials to inform her directly about any financial requirements.
She visited the institute’s intensive care unit and control room, observed neurosurgical procedures from the operating theatre gallery and interacted with patients. She also witnessed the rehabilitation of stroke patients through robotic physiotherapy.
The CM Punjab said timely treatment was critical in stroke cases, as patients had a window of four to five hours during which medical intervention could significantly improve their chances of recovery. She urged people to seek immediate medical assistance if they experienced symptoms such as arm weakness or difficulty speaking, and advised them to call Rescue 1122 without delay. High blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol could increase the risk of stroke, she said; stressing that its symptoms should never be ignored.
The chief minister said Rescue 1122 has helped save the lives of 85 stroke patients by transporting them to stroke centres in time. She commended the rescue service and the medical teams for their efforts.
She pointed out that the cost of the TNK injection used in stroke treatment was beyond the reach of many ordinary people, while travelling from distant districts such as Rahim Yar Khan to Lahore for treatment posed additional difficulties. The establishment of local stroke facilities would help patients access timely care closer to home, she added.
Provincial Health Minister Kh Salman Rafique said Punjab has established 40 stroke centres, including 38 primary stroke centres and two comprehensive stroke centres. He also said that 2.6 million dialysis sessions and 2,400 cardiac surgeries had been performed in the province.
The chief minister said 15 additional stroke centres would be established, adding that PINS Executive Director Dr Asif Bashir and head of neurology Dr Qasim Bashir were training doctors and nurses to strengthen specialised stroke care.
She said the provincial government was also expanding cardiac services, with state-of-the-art catheterisation laboratories planned in 20 districts. Facilities had already been established in eight or nine districts, she added.
Stroke treatment was also available at PINS/General Hospital, Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology and Sheikh Zayed Hospital, while services were being extended to Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi and hospitals in Multan and Faisalabad.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026