Maryam launches Pakistan’s largest dialysis card programme

LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Tuesday launched Pakistan’s first and largest CM Dialysis Card Programme.

Under this groundbreaking initiative, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz approved the Chief Minister Dialysis Programme Card, allocating funds of up to Rs 1 million per patient for dialysis and related treatments. Of this amount, Rs8.5 lakh will cover dialysis costs, while Rs1.5 lakh is earmarked for diagnostic tests for patients suffering from kidney disease.

Presiding over a special meeting, the chief minister instructed health officials to ensure free tests and medicines for dialysis patients and emphasized that the dialysis procedures must continue under all circumstances. The meeting reached an agreement in principle to establish more dialysis units across Punjab.

Expressing her strong indignation over the spread of AIDS in Multan, the chief minister sought a report within 24 hours. She said, “The spread of AIDS among dialysis patients is not only regrettable but shameful. Halting dialysis procedures due to lack of funds is unacceptable and must be prevented.”

During the briefing, it was revealed that patients from other provinces, including Sindh and Balochistan, were also benefiting from Punjab’s free dialysis services, with medicines being supplied to these regions as well.

The chief minister also reviewed progress on various health programmes and projects. It was decided to establish key performance indicators to assess the health department’s performance. A progress report on the Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital was presented, and the chief minister directed immediate appointment of its head.

Additionally, reports on the ongoing projects of PIC-2 and the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology in Sargodha were presented. The chief minister instructed that PIC-2 be developed as a state-of-the-art hospital, equipped with the latest technology, equipment and medicines for cardiac care.