Punjab government allocates Rs. 37 billion for free medical treatment

The Punjab government has allocated over Rs. 37 billion to fund free medical treatment for various specialized healthcare programs across the province. Announced by Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, the funding targets serious medical conditions including cancer, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and organ transplants.

Key initiatives include the Chief Minister’s Special Initiative for Cancer Patients, which has an annual budget of approximately Rs. 10 billion covering chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical procedures. The Chief Minister’s Adult Cardiac Surgery Programme provides free heart treatment worth roughly Rs. 3 billion annually, while the stroke management initiative provides services valued at Rs. 1.25 billion per year.

Additionally, the Chief Minister’s Children’s Heart Surgery Programme has provided free surgeries to more than 16,857 children. The government is also working to upgrade cardiac hospitals and introduce modern medical equipment to reduce patient waiting lists for critical procedures.