NAROWAL: The Daska Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital is providing free medical facilities across 20 departments, including surgery, dialysis, medicine, and laboratory services, funded by the government and local business donations.

Established in 1941 on 49.5 kanals, the hospital has undergone improvements time to time to meet growing patient needs. A major revamp began in 2016, with a second phase initiated in 2023 to upgrade facilities further.

Muhammad Zulqarnain Langrial, chairman of the District Health Authority and Sailkot deputy commissioner (DC), said that under Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s directives, Daska THQ Hospital has been transformed into a ‘state-of-the-art’ facility.

The hospital’s bed capacity has been expanded to 150, and 20 departments, including orthopaedics, surgery, gynaecology, radiology, pathology and dentistry, are now fully operational.

The DC said that free surgeries and 267 medicines are being provided to patients, with 13 dialysis machines functioning in two shifts daily. The hospital serves 27 kidney patients every dayt. Of these, nine machines cater to general kidney patients, two for Hepatitis C, one for Hepatitis B and one for HIV patients.

Orthopaedic surgery, including complete plating and treatment, is also available at no cost. He said that the hospital also has a large number of insulin in addition to dog bite, snake venom, hepatitis B and C.

Medical Superintendent Dr Muhammad Ali Butt said the hospital serves over 2,500 patients daily through emergency, indoor, and outpatient services. Specialised clinics, including the Non-Communicable Diseases Clinic, Well Women Clinic, Hepatitis Clinic, Mental Health Clinic and TB Clinic, are operational.

The hospital also participates in the Punjab government’s Universal Health Insurance programme and generated Rs100 million last financial year. Advanced diagnostic services, such as CT scans, digital X-rays, ultrasounds, and blood bank facilities are available round the clock, all free of charge.

Dr Butt said that with Rs1 million from UHI funds and local donations, THQ Hospital Daska is ensuring 100 per cent free healthcare, making it a model facility in the region.

Published in Dawn, March 8th, 2025