Punjab to launch Adult Cardiac Surgery Program for free heart operations: Minister Salman

Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that important steps are being taken for the immediate implementation of the Chief Minister’s Adult Cardiac Surgery Program to provide free heart surgeries to patients across the province

LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 27th Feb, 2026) Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has said that important steps are being taken for the immediate implementation of the Chief Minister’s Adult Cardiac Surgery Program to provide free heart surgeries to patients across the province.

He was presiding over the 110th meeting of the board of Directors of the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company on Friday. The minister stated that revolutionary and historic measures were being introduced in the health sector by the Punjab government, adding that free treatment worth billions of rupees was already being provided to patients at approved hospitals.

A detailed briefing was presented during the meeting on various flagship health projects launched by the Punjab government. Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical education Department Azmat Mahmood attended via video link. Health Economist Dr. Adnan Khan, Board Member Parveen Agha, Board Member Dr. Shujaat Ali, Additional Secretary Finance Khurram Aziz, Member Health P&D Shafaat Ali and Director PITB Nosheen Fayyaz also joined through video link. Former DG Health Punjab and Board Member Dr. Zahid Pervez, CEO Punjab Health Initiative Management Company Dr. Ali Razaq and CEO Punjab Healthcare Commission Dr. Saqib Aziz attended the meeting.

Addressing the participants, Khawaja Salman Rafique said historic and fundamental steps were being taken in the health sector under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif. He announced that under the Adult Cardiac Surgery Program, free treatment worth more than Rs 3 billion annually would be provided to heart patients. All permanent residents of Punjab would be eligible for the program according to NADRA records.

He revealed that around 14,000 patients were currently on waiting lists at various cardiac institutions.

The program would cover all types of adult cardiac surgery procedures. Government cardiac hospitals would serve as Primary registration and treatment centers, while referrals to private hospitals would only be made through a Multidisciplinary Team (MDT). The annual treatment coverage per patient would be up to Rs 1 million, with a reserve fund allocated for complex cases exceeding the standard package.

The minister further highlighted that under the Chief Minister’s Children’s Heart Surgery Program, more than 10,764 children had undergone completely free heart surgeries across Punjab. Beneficiaries also included children from other regions, including 442 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 260 from Azad Kashmir, 108 from Islamabad, 29 from Balochistan, 39 from Gilgit-Baltistan and 27 from Sindh.

He added that under the Chief Minister’s Special Initiative for Transplant Program, a total of 1,344 transplants had been performed, including 698 kidney transplants, 384 cochlear implants, 214 liver transplants, 16 bone marrow transplants and 32 corneal transplants. Under the Chief Minister’s Dialysis Program, more than 1.41 million patients had received free dialysis treatment, while over 35,866 patients had been registered for dialysis services at participating hospitals.

Khawaja Salman Rafique said the government was utilizing all available resources to provide the best possible healthcare facilities to the people of Punjab.

On the occasion, Secretary Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education Azmat Mahmood emphasized that maximum facilities should be ensured for patients at empanelled hospitals. He said instructions had been issued to resolve patients’ problems on a priority basis to improve service delivery.