PRIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif announced on Sunday the government’s commitment to providing state-of-the-art free healthcare facilities to deserving patients nationwide. Addressing the groundbreaking ceremony of the Jinnah Medical Complex, the prime minister stated that the complex would be one of the region’s premier medical centres, offering 100% free medical treatment to the needy. He highlighted that the completed medical complex would offer world-class healthcare facilities, including specialized departments for heart, kidney, lung, and cancer treatments. Additionally, a modern first aid emergency section with air ambulance services for remote areas will be established.
The Prime Minister rightly described the project, which would be completed within a year, as a gift of the coalition Government for not only people of twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi but also for residents of KP and Azad Kashmir as the two existing public sector facilities – Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences and the Polyclinic Hospital – were over-burdened and there was a legitimate demand for more quality health facilities in the federal capital. The PIMS used to be a role model but lost this reputation in the face of increasing pressure of patients from neighbouring regions including most parts of the KP and Azad Kashmir and inability of the Government to expand or upgrade its facilities. We hope that apart from the creation of the new health complex, plans would be launched to restore the status of the PIMS as a leading healthcare provider in Islamabad. As the Prime Minister talked about air ambulance service to be used by the new hospital, it was a happy coincidence that the Punjab Government gave practical shape to its plans for the launch of an air ambulance service by shifting an injured woman from a Mianwali hospital to Rawalpindi. This showed renewed interest of the PML(N) Government in providing modern health facilities, especially to those who cannot afford medical treatment from quality private sector health institutions.
