Open-heart surgery delays prompt government action

Keeping in view a substantial rise in the number of patients requiring cardiac surgery, the Punjab government has introduced a comprehensive mechanism to address the growing backlog of open-heart surgery cases at five major cardiology hospitals across the province.

Official sources said the Chief Minister's Secretariat has directed the relevant authorities to prioritise and dispose of pending cases from 2024 and 2025 strictly on merit before accommodating newly registered patients requiring similar procedures.

The decision comes amid a significant increase in cardiovascular disease cases across Punjab, particularly at specialised cardiology institutions in Rawalpindi, Lahore, Wazirabad, Faisalabad and Multan.

Medical experts report that a growing number of patients are being diagnosed with severe heart conditions that require angiography, stent placement and, in many cases, open-heart surgery.

Hospital sources revealed that the volume of patients requiring surgical intervention has far exceeded the existing operational capacity of these institutions. As a result, patients are frequently being given surgery dates ranging from six months to one year after their initial assessment, with procedures scheduled according to available operating theatre capacity and medical resources.

Sources further disclosed that the number of pending open-heart surgery cases registered during 2024 and 2025 has now reached several thousand across the five cardiology hospitals. Meanwhile, hospitals continue to add new patients to waiting lists, resulting in further pressure on already overstretched surgical facilities.

To address the situation, the competent authority has reportedly sought complete records of pending cases from all five hospitals and formulated a formal framework to ensure that cases are processed transparently and strictly in accordance with merit and medical urgency.