LAHORE:Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique said that the CM Punjab had launched a project to provide free medicines to cardiac (heart) and cancer patients at their doorsteps in May 2024 and the project is successfully underway.
He said this while addressing a review meeting at the Department of Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education on Friday. Secretary Health Punjab Azmat Mahmood attended the meeting in person while all MSs and Pakistan Post officers participated in the meeting through video link. Feedback was also taken from the third-party validation team about the project in the meeting. Salman Rafique said that a total of 1308,444 consignments have been received for home delivery of medicines through PPM since January 1, 2025. The medicine delivery system is being further improved under an agreement with Pakistan Post. Patients living in densely populated areas have expressed great happiness over receiving medicines.
‘NSCI being completed steadily’
The Rs74 billion Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research (NSICTR) project is progressing steadily, with overall physical completion reaching 54 percent, according to the Infrastructure Development Authority of Punjab (IDAP).
According to the officials, key components of the project are advancing at a notable pace. The Cancer Care Clinic has reached 89 percent completion, while the main hospital building stands at 55 percent.
