QUETTA: Balochistan Chief Mini­ster Sarfraz Bugti has said that cancer and other life-threatening diseases should be treated within the province so that patients get treatment in their own province instead of going to other provinces.

The chief minister was presiding over a meeting convened to review the progress of public-private partnership projects in the health sector.

The meeting discussed collaboration between the provincial government and the Aria Institute of Medical Sciences.

Issues of public-private partnership in the health sector, timely and quality medical services for people across Balochistan, improvement of emergency services, and availability of treatment for cancer and other life-threatening diseases were discussed during the meeting.

The meeting agreed that expertise and resources of the private sector would be used to make the public healthcare system in Balochistan effective and beneficial for the masses. Various aspects of potential collaboration were examined, including increasing hospital capacity, improving diagnostic and treatment facilities and introducing modern healthcare services.

CM Bugti said that reforms in the health sector, implementation of modern systems, and sustainable development require strong partnerships with the private sector.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2026