LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has said that her government believes in proactive governance rather than reacting after emergence of problems, emphasising that preventive healthcare remains central to her administration’s vision.

She was addressing the launching ceremony of the Community Health Inspectors Programme here on Wednesday under which 55,000 community health inspectors would be hired.

“Once these inspectors enter the field, diseases will be driven out of Punjab. Prevention is far less painful than treatment after illness has already taken hold,” she said and added when mothers, sisters and daughters came forward to serve in the field, no one could defeat Punjab.

She described the community health inspectors initiative as a transformative step, saying that Punjab’s women have strength and determination to change the province’s destiny. She said the inspectors have undergone months of training and are now ready to serve humanity by delivering healthcare at the grassroots level.

55,000 inspectors to be hired; plan envisages creation of a digital health profile for every household

Calling the community health inspectors her “eyes, ears and pride,” the CM said Punjab is becoming self-reliant across the sectors. “Women play a defining role in Punjab’s development and contribute effectively to improving public health outcomes. Through clinics-on-wheels and field hospitals, medical treatment has already been provided to nearly 30 million people across the province.

Under the new programme, community health inspectors will be able to conduct basic diagnostic tests, including blood sugar checks, and administer injections.

The CM said she took interest in designing the inspectors’ uniforms and approving their tool kits. She said 25,000 individuals had already been provided with employment under the programme, with a monthly salary of Rs50,000.

“Those who prove themselves through performance will see further increase in their salary,” she said, acknowledging the demanding nature of door-to-door service.

She said this programme would result in the creation of a digital health profile for every household, enabling early detection of diseases and maintaining complete medical records through digital systems.

“Patients will be examined and, where necessary, will be referred to relevant hospitals for further treatment. The time has come when people do not have to come to the government; the government itself comes to them,” she said.

Referring to broader healthcare reforms, Maryam said free medicines for cancer and heart diseases are being provided, while cardiology institutes have been established in Sargodha, Sahiwal and Murree. She said that a cath lab was operational in Jhelum and that similar facilities were set to be launched in Jhang.

“It is my dream that no patient visiting a government hospital ever faces hardship,” she said, reaffirming her commitment to providing comprehensive healthcare facilities to the people of Punjab.

Published in Dawn, January 8th, 2026