CM launches children's heart surgery plan

Patients to be treated in private hospitals if govt facilities lack space

LAHORE:

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif launched the CM's Children's Heart Surgery Programme for free treatment during her visit to the Children's Hospital Cardiac Surgery Ward.

The CM distributed Child Surgery Cards among the deserving patients under the programme.

She said on the occasion, "The surgery of an ailing child will be done in a private hospital if there is no place in the government hospitals."

She inspected the HDU and other departments of the hospital and reviewed various facilities available in the cardiac surgery ward.

The chief minister enquired about the wellbeing of the young patients, gave them gifts and also played Ludo with them.

She also talked to the parents of the patient children and asked them about the facilities.

"It is my mission to free every citizen of Punjab, including children, from the system of queues and waiting," she said.

The CM said the number of specialist surgeons and allied staff would be increased to multiply the capacity of paediatric heart surgery in government hospitals.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said, "In the first phase, paediatric heart surgery facility is being provided in six government and designated private hospitals, including the PIC and Children's Hospital in Lahore and Multan, as well as the Faisalabad and Rawalpindi Cardiology Institutes."

In the second phase, facilities for paediatric heart surgery will also be provided in the hospitals in Wazirabad, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur and Sargodha.

The chief minister observed a dashboard developed to monitor the programme.

She also visited the play area for children with heart diseases in the hospital and reviewed the facilities.