Maryam Nawaz announces establishment of stroke centers across Punjab

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz announced the establishment of stroke centers up to the tehsil level.

A meeting chaired by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz approved the establishment of modern stroke management centers for stroke patients across the province. The meeting discussed in detail effective measures for timely diagnosis and treatment of stroke.

The Punjab Chief Minister, while approving the purchase of TPA and modern TNK injections used in stroke treatment, directed that the availability of the injections and the training of medical staff should be completed by mid-February. The meeting decided that physicians would also be given regular training in administering TPA and TN injections.

The meeting was briefed that a temporary facility for the stroke management program would be provided at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology, while stroke management centers would be established in the province in phases.

Stroke centers would be established in 30 district hospitals in the first phase, 15 in the second phase and the remaining 24 in the third phase.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said that stroke centers are being established in every district and their scope will be extended to the tehsil level so that no patient has to go to distant cities in case of emergency.

She said that it is imperative to make the public aware of the symptoms of stroke and the importance of the four-hour golden hour because timely treatment can save the patient from permanent disability.

The Punjab Chief Minister further said that CT scan machines should be functional in every hospital in Punjab at all times, while expert neurologists and pediatric neurologists will be deployed in every district hospital.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz clarified that it is the vision of the Punjab government to provide emergency treatment facilities to every patient in the nearest hospital.