Progress on Nawaz Sharif Cancer hospital reviewed

LAHORE: Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique and Chairman Board and former Chief Secretary Punjab Captain (retd) Zahid Saeed visited the under-construction Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research.

On this occasion, Secretary Department of Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Azmat Mahmood Khan, Dr Adnan Khan, Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University Professor Mahmood Ayaz, Additional Secretary Technical Dr Muhammad Waseem, Professor Zeba, Muhammad Ali and other officers were present.

Chief Operating Officer Maira Ali, Chief Strategy Officer Faizan Ahmed Riaz, Project Director and relevant contractors from the executing agency IDAP were also present. Khawaja Salman Rafique and Captain (retd) Zahid Saeed visited the site of Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research.

While the reviewing the ongoing progress and briefing the officers on the master plan, Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said that the Punjab government is constructing a 915-bed state-of-the-art Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research in Lahore at a cost of Rs72 billion. Work is underway day and night on the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research. This institute will be Pakistan's first complete government cancer hospital. The level three and level four cancer patients will also be treated free-of-cost in this hospital. IDAP has been directed to make the NSICT& RP functional on time.

Khawaja Salman Rafique, while giving details, said that this 915-bed cancer hospital will be completed in two phases. The institute will have pediatric oncology, operation theatres, 10 radiation therapy bunkers, ICU and a 30-bed emergency ward. A waiting hall and 24 beds will also be built along with a residence for patients. The main building will house a bone marrow centre, cancer care clinic, doctors’ residences and a mosque in the first phase. A new building with 300 beds and a parking plaza will also be built in the second phase. The first government cancer hospital Radiation therapy, chemotherapy, endoscopy and other facilities will be available in it.

The minister said that every work that improves the lives of the people is the top priority of the Punjab government. Cardiology, neurology, PEADs and dialysis centres are being set up in every city. No cancer patient will be denied treatment. Patients coming from KP, Sindh and other provinces will also receive free treatment in this hospital as it is not just a project for Punjab but for the whole of Pakistan. Chairman Board Captain (retd) Zahid Saeed said in his speech that a fixed time target has been given for the completion of the first phase of the cancer hospital.

The progress made at the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research is being continuously reviewed.