PM to set up 50 new health facilities across country

Nawaz Sharif says National Health Programme is gradually being expanded across Pakistan

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has said that the federal government has a plan to set up at least 50 health facilities across the country to provide free-of-charge services to the masses.

“The Prime Minister’s National Health Programme is gradually being expanded to cover the entire country,” PM Nawaz said in his address to participants of the programme's launching ceremony in Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab on Friday, Express News reported.

“The health of the poor is of prime concern to the government and necessary resources will be allocated for the programme,” the premier said as he broke down into tears. “The programme has already begun in many districts and today 250,000 families are being registered in Rahim Yar Khan.”

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The prime minister said the programme was directed at the deprived segment of the society “who cannot afford medical treatment”.

The ambitious Prime Minister’s National Health Programme had been launched last year to provide free medical treatment to poorest of the poor at both public and private hospitals across the country. The programme, which aims at providing quality healthcare, was launched in 15 districts in the first phase with a promise that it would later be expanded to 23 districts of the country.

The programme includes treatment for heart issues including angioplasty and bypass; diabetes and related complications; traffic accident and burn injuries including life and organ saving treatment, cancer including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery; complications related to renal failure and dialysis and complications related to chronic infections – Hepatitis and HIV, and Liver, Kidney and Heart failure.