NS cancer institute to have world level facilities: minister

LAHORE:Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has said Asia’s largest cancer hospital is being built for the people, adding international level medical facilities will be provided to patients at the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research.

The minister said this while visiting the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research. The Project Director and the IDAP team gave a briefing. Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said that according to the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, Asia’s largest cancer hospital is being built for the people. He said level-four patients will also be treated in this cancer hospital. Khawaja Salman Rafique said that this cancer hospital will be completed in four different phases.

The first phase will be completed this year itself and opened to the public. Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique appreciated the IDAP team for working at a rapid pace on the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research.

Meanwhile, a meeting was held in the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department under the chairmanship of Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique. The meeting was attended by Special Secretary Operations Tariq Mahmood Rehmani and Additional Secretary Anwar Briar. Principal Sahiwal Medical College Professor Imran Hassan and officers concerned participated through video link. During the meeting, the process of purchasing medical equipment at Sahiwal Institute of Cardiology was reviewed. The officers gave a briefing on the occasion. Minister Health also expressed his anger over the delay in this regard. He said that the process of purchasing medical equipment for Sahiwal Institute of Cardiology should be completed on time. According to the vision of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, efforts are being made to provide the best health facilities to the people.

Khawaja Salman Rafique visited the Emergency Services Headquarters. Secretary Emergency Services Dr Rizwan Naseer briefed the minister for Eidul Azha and the performance and development goals of rescue in the review meeting. He said that under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the Air Ambulance Service has so far transported 166 seriously ill people from remote areas for better treatment.

‘Motorway Ambulance Service and Air Ambulance Service are the best and historic welfare projects of the Punjab government this year. After districts and tehsils, rescue services will be started in 31 new towns. After ambulance service, fire service is being started in 39 new tehsils,’ Khawaja Salman said and added that the provision of 24-hour rescue services to the public during the Eid holidays is commendable.

After the construction of an air strip in Bhakkar next year, air ambulance operations will also be possible from Bhakkar. Next year, the rescue intern program will be a game changer across Punjab, he said.

The minister added that according to the vision of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, the quality of emergency services is being further improved. Punjab will further improve the operational capabilities of the emergency service. The Punjab government will soon solarise all the stations of Rescue 1122. Highest number of emergencies were reported in 3090 Lahore, 1889 Faisalabad, 1490 Multan and 1396 Bahawalpur and 22960 in the remaining districts, he said.