Maryam Nawaz announces free bone marrow transplant card

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced the imminent launch of a bone marrow transplant card to facilitate treatment for patients in the province, Express News reported.

According to reports, under the chief minister’s initiative, 150 successful bone marrow transplants have been conducted at Lahore’s Children’s Hospital. The Punjab government is covering over Rs4.2 million per procedure.

Children’s Hospital is the first public-sector facility in Pakistan to offer bone marrow transplants. In the past year, its cancer ward has treated 2,000 patients, while more than 25,000 children have benefited from outpatient services.

The hospital’s bone marrow transplant success rate exceeds 89%, aligning with international standards. Patients from Sindh, Balochistan, and other provinces have also undergone procedures at the facility. Additionally, Afghan children requiring transplants have been treated free of charge in Lahore.

Vice Chancellor of the University of Child Health Sciences, Dr Masood Sadiq, stated that the chief minister had directed that no child should be denied treatment due to financial constraints. The government also provides free post-operative medication, and patients undergo follow-up check-ups every 15 days.

Maryam, in a statement, said, "Every child is more precious to me than my own. Free treatment is the right of every patient, and the state will fulfil its duty."

She added that the introduction of the transplant card would relieve families of financial burdens. "There will be no compromise on children's health, and we will allocate all necessary resources," she affirmed.