Punjab announces extra Rs5 billion for stroke treatment, new hospitals

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced an additional Rs5 billion for stroke treatment on Thursday. She spoke at an event marking World Stroke Day at the Punjab Institute of Neurosciences (PINS) in Lahore.

She pledged to establish stroke centres, cardiac facilities, paediatric centres and cancer hospitals at every divisional headquarters in the province. She also said heart transplant surgeries would begin soon at the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology.

The chief minister said no stroke patient would be denied treatment because of a shortage of funds, and she directed officials to inform her directly about any financial requirements. Reports noted that the cost of the TNK injection used in stroke treatment is beyond the reach of many ordinary people, and that patients from distant districts such as Rahim Yar Khan face difficulties travelling to Lahore.

During her visit she toured the PINS intensive care unit and control room, observed neurosurgical procedures, spoke with patients and watched robotic physiotherapy for stroke patients.

Provincial Health Minister Kh Salman Rafique said Punjab has established 40 stroke centres, of which 38 are primary and two are comprehensive. He said 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 set up.

Stroke treatment is currently available at PINS/General Hospital, the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology and Sheikh Zayed Hospital. Services are being extended to Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi and to hospitals in Multan and Faisalabad. Catheterisation laboratories are planned in 20 districts, with facilities already in place in eight or nine.

A paediatric centre will be set up in every division so parents need not travel to Lahore for specialised children's care. A cancer hospital is being built in Lahore to give free treatment to underprivileged patients, with a pain management centre planned there. Facilities for genetic and blood disorders are being developed at Nawaz Sharif Medical District.

The chief minister said 100 billion rupees had been spent on free medicines and 100 million people were treated at government hospitals over the past year. She said 15,000 to 16,000 children, including some from other provinces, had undergone cardiac surgery in Punjab. She also said public office was a blessing when used to improve people's lives.

Doctors urged people to seek immediate help for symptoms such as arm weakness or difficulty speaking and to call Rescue 1122 without delay, as a window of four to five hours greatly improves recovery chances. Rescue 1122 has helped save 85 stroke patients by taking them to stroke centres in time.