Lahore: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has unequivocally stated that her primary focus is on ensuring free healthcare and medication for the province's citizens. Her commitment was underscored today during the inauguration of the second phase of the "Clinic on Wheels" project, where she personally inspected the mobile clinics and handed over keys for new vehicles to the medical teams.
During the ceremony, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz highlighted that patients suffering from critical illnesses such as cancer, hepatitis, and heart conditions are already receiving medicines directly at their homes. She announced that these mobile clinics would now be accessible in all districts and urban areas of Punjab, expressing her vision for every individual to receive their basic rights directly at their doorstep. She commended the diligent efforts of Health Minister Imran Nazir, the Health Secretary, and the Primary Health Department, acknowledging that their team's hard work was instrumental in achieving this success.
Chief Minister Nawaz also revealed a significant expansion in the "Clinic on Wheels" fleet, with the number of vehicles growing from 245 in recent months. These additional mobile units are designed to reach patients even in narrow streets and remote localities, dramatically extending the reach of essential medical services across the province.
She emphasized that these mobile clinics are fully air-conditioned and function as mobile operating theaters, providing comprehensive medical care on the go. Highlighting their impact, she stated that these clinics have treated over 10 million individuals in the past year alone, with more than 45,000 patients benefiting daily from their services.
Acknowledging past challenges, Maryam Nawaz stated that while significant work in healthcare was done during the tenures of Nawaz Sharif and Shahbaz Sharif, access to basic medical facilities remained a struggle for the public over an extended period. She asserted that the government is now taking every possible step to ensure public well-being, including allocating a substantial fund of 100 billion rupees for the provision of free medicines in all government hospitals, aimed at improving their overall performance. The Chief Minister further reiterated her commitment to expanding the scope of "Clinic on Wheels" to ensure every citizen has access to healthcare at their doorstep.
