Punjab govt announces 100% free cancer treatment

LAHORE: The Punjab Government Cancer Patient Card will now cover the full cost of cancer and heart treatment after the provincial government decided to take the financial responsibility of the patients who are confronting heavy expenses for medical treatment.

The decision was taken during the meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz. The officials said the government would bear the entire cost of cancer and cardiac treatment, and a special card would be issued to the patients for the services. Under the CM Special Initiative Card, heart patients would get a treatment, worth a maximum of Rs 1 million, free of cost.

According to officials who briefed him, in the first phase, 45,000 patients will benefit from the new CM Special Initiative Card. Free cardiac surgery will also be carried out under the Chief Minister Cardiac Surgery Programme, they added.

Maryam Nawaz also directed the health authorities to prepare a plan regarding the timely treatment of stroke. She ordered that the OPD block of the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research should be functional by January 17, while the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology Sargodha, must be operational by January 31.

The Punjab Government Cancer Patient Card aims to ensure that no patient has to sell his or her belongings to afford lifesaving care.