Private cardiac hospitals to be included in CM Adult Cardiac Surgery Program: minister

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 28th Feb, 2026) Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has announced that private cardiac institutions will also be included in the Chief Minister’s Adult Cardiac Surgery Program.

He made this statement while presiding over a meeting at the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company regarding the program on Saturday. He said that historic and fundamental steps are being taken in the health sector under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif.

The minister said that under the Chief Minister’s Adult Cardiac Surgery Program, free treatment facilities worth more than Rs 3 billion will be provided annually to patients suffering from heart diseases. All permanent residents of Punjab will be eligible for the program according to NADRA records.

He added that government cardiac institutions are being upgraded under the initiative, while private cardiac hospitals will also be brought on board. After the launch of the program, the waiting list for adult cardiac surgeries is expected to decrease significantly. All types of adult cardiac surgery procedures have been included in the scheme.

According to the plan, government cardiac institutions will serve as the Primary registration and treatment centers, while referrals to private hospitals will be made only through a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT).

The annual coverage per patient will be up to Rs 1 million. A reserve fund will also be allocated for patients whose treatment exceeds the standard package or involves complex medical conditions.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said the government is utilizing all available resources to provide the best possible healthcare facilities to the people of Punjab and to ensure access to quality treatment.

On this occasion, Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical education Department Azmat Mahmood said that an IT-based dashboard will be developed to ensure transparency and effective implementation of the program. He noted that the initiative will help save thousands of lives.

Azmat Mahmood attended the meeting via video link. CEO Punjab Health Initiative Management Company Dr. Ali Razaq and CEO Punjab Institute of Cardiology Lahore Professor Bilal Mohiuddin were present in the meeting. Officials from Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, Faisalabad Institute of Cardiology, Wazirabad Institute of Cardiology, Multan Institute of Cardiology and other cardiac institutions also participated through video link.