LAHORE: The newly-established multi-billion rupee Jinnah Institute of Cardiology (JIC) in Lahore is yet to perform key procedures even six weeks after its official launch by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.
As per complaints, patients visiting the JIC are being shifted to the already-overburdened Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) and some other public sector hospitals.
Sources say not a single procedure of angiography, angioplasty and bypass has been performed since the JIC inauguration on Aug 21.
Speaking on the occasion, the chief minister had declared the JIC Pakistan’s first cardiac transplant centre. It is equipped with modern cardiac care facilities, including a catheterisation laboratory, MRI, modular operation theatres, cardiac wards, pathology and radiology laboratories, intensive care and emergency departments.
The 250-bed hospital was established at a cost of Rs17 billion opposite the Jinnah Hospital as an autonomous institute under the Punjab Specialised Medical Institutions Act 2025 (Act LVI of 2025).
The act was declared a landmark provincial legislation by the Punjab government to reform public sector specialised healthcare and medical education.
Two other mega health projects, including the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology and Nawaz Sharif Cancer Care Hospital, were also established under the same act.
Sources said the first advertisement for JIC positions was run in January 2026 but still several posts remained vacant.
A majority of senior cardiologists and cardiac surgeons hired by the government have not joined the institute.
Various departments, they said, are still running without departmental heads as the suitable candidates could not be recruited for these units despite multiple advertisements.
Under the plan, the JIC is to be governed by an 11-member Board of Directors (BoD) with partial/full funding from the Punjab government.
Renowned cardiothoracic surgeon Dr Hasnat Khan is the Dean and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) while Dr Sabreena is JIC Director.
So far, two sections of the institute – the OPD and emergency – are operating while the indoor services are yet to be offered.
Punjab Health Minister Khwaja Salman Rafique confirmed to Dawn that all the critical procedures have been delayed due to some unavoidable circumstances. He said the institute may take three weeks to start operations.
He said that the patients being referred to the PIC would also be entertained at JIC soon.
The minister said newly-appointed Dean of the JIC had proposed to the Infrastructure Development Authority of the Punjab (IDAP) some modifications in JIC.
Similarly, the dean is building his team of dedicated and experienced surgeons to start life saving procedures.
“I will ensure angiography is done from next week,” says the minister, adding that the JIC is also trying to reduce the percentage of heart attack patients referred to PIC.
Published in Dawn, October 6th, 2026
