A program launched by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has significantly reduced the waiting list for pediatric heart surgeries, with 530 children treated across six government and eight private hospitals on the panel.
The program’s implementation is being tracked through a monitoring dashboard, ensuring that patient details are entered into a central database for timely surgeries.
So far, approximately 4,500 children have been referred for treatment under the initiative across the province.
Cardiac surgeries are being carried out at Children’s Hospitals and Cardiology Institutes in Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, and Rawalpindi, in addition to four private hospitals in Lahore, three in Multan, and one in Islamabad.
The Chief Minister stated, “The health of every child is crucial, and we will make every effort to save their lives. This program will also treat children from other provinces, including K-P.”
She expressed, “It was deeply upsetting to witness young children enduring heart conditions and having to wait a year for surgery.”
The Chief Minister also emphasized that efforts would be made to address the shortage of specialized heart surgeons and trained staff to expand the capacity of children’s hospitals, ensuring the treatment of all children suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
