LAHORE — Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has inaugurated Pakistan’s first dedicated heart transplant centre at the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology in Lahore, marking a major development in the country’s public healthcare system. The facility is part of a newly established 250-bed cardiac institute built at a cost of Rs16 billion.
Maryam Nawaz said the government wanted to change the perception that patients needed to travel abroad to receive advanced medical treatment. She announced that heart transplant procedures at the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology would be provided completely free of cost to eligible patients, with the government bearing the treatment expenses.
According to the chief minister, a heart transplant can cost around $50,000, but the use of Chinese technology is expected to reduce the cost to approximately $10,000. She said lowering the cost would allow more patients to benefit from the life-saving treatment.
The Jinnah Institute of Cardiology has been equipped with modern medical facilities, including a catheterisation laboratory, MRI, modular operating theatres, cardiac wards, intensive care units, emergency services and pathology and radiology laboratories.
During her remarks, Maryam Nawaz also acknowledged challenges within the public healthcare system, including shortages and alleged misuse of medicines and medical equipment. She said that around 100 million people visited government hospitals during the previous year and stressed the need to further improve healthcare services.
The chief minister also praised the medical team and UK-based cardiologist Dr Hasnat Khan for returning to Pakistan and offering his expertise. He is expected to assist in training doctors and other healthcare staff at the new institute.
The launch of the heart transplant centre is being viewed as an important step towards expanding access to advanced cardiac treatment within Pakistan and reducing the need for patients to seek expensive treatment abroad.
