TOBA TEK SINGH: A new state-of-the-art cath lab was inaugurated at the Jhang DHQ on Wednesday by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz.

The facility will provide advanced cardiac procedures including angiography, angioplasty and primary PCI locally, while temporary pacemaker implantation will also be available at the lab.

During her visit, the CM inspected the newly-established cath lab and a modern operation theatre at the DHQ Hospital. She also reviewed the pre and post procedure wards, angiography ward and the hospital pharmacy, and observed an ongoing procedure through the control room. She also met cardiac patients and attendants and prayed for their early recovery.

On the occasion, Punjab Primary Healthcare Minister Khwaja Imran Nazeer briefed the CM on the project and said that treatment within the 60 to 90 minute golden hour would now be possible, significantly improving survival chances for heart attack patients. He said that dozens of procedures had already been carried out in recent days, with many patients discharged.

Says construction of Nawaz Sharif Medical District in Lahore will begin in March

The CM announced the introduction of a province-wide telemedicine system and the launch of cardiac surgery services at the DHQ Hospital in Jhang, as part of the government’s efforts to ensure quality healthcare at people’s doorsteps.

She said that construction of the Nawaz Sharif Medical District in Lahore would begin in March. She said that 16 cath labs had been launched across Punjab, while cardiology institutes had been established in Sahiwal, Murree and Sargodha. Patients from other provinces, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, were also receiving treatment in Punjab, reflecting the province’s inclusive healthcare policy, she added.

Highlighting broader health initiatives, the CM said that dialysis cards allowed patients to receive treatment worth up to one million rupees, while clinics on wheels and field hospitals had provided treatment to over 20 million people. She said that free medicines worth Rs100 billion were being provided across Punjab, along with home delivery of essential drugs, including insulin.

She said the telemedicine services would allow patients to consult doctors through mobile phones, while specialist consultants from across the world were also being engaged. Air ambulance services had also been launched to ensure timely transfer of critically ill patients, she added.

Referring to paediatric cardiac care, she said that she was distressed to learn about the long waiting list for child heart surgeries upon assuming office. She said that thousands of children had since successfully undergone treatment, including patients from other provinces.

She said the Nawaz Sharif Medical District would house specialised hospitals for children, cardiology, blood diseases, orthopaedics, burn treatment and genetic disorders. Advanced cancer treatment facilities, including modern Chinese technology, were also being introduced, she added.

Published in Dawn, January 22nd, 2026