PUNJAB Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has rightly taken pride in announcing that Pakistan is the only country in Asia apart from China using Co-Ablation technology for non-surgical treatment of cancer.
She said the Co-Ablation Centre at Mayo Hospital Lahore had already become operational, providing free treatment costing Rs1.6 million per patient. She disclosed that similar facilities would be established in Rawalpindi and Multan and in the second phase in Sargodha.
The launch of the revolutionary project in a short span of time speaks volumes about the commitment of the Chief Minister to ensure availability of best possible services for people of the province in different spheres of life including health, education, transportation and agriculture. This is a landmark initiative as cancer treatment is very costly making it beyond the reach of the common man. Co-Ablation cancer treatment is a cutting-edge alternative to surgery and chemotherapy, which are painful and also have side-effects. The new system uses electrical heat to burn affected tissues, reducing pain and significantly accelerating the healing process. The CM was impressed by this non-invasive treatment during her recent visit to China, promptly signed an agreement with the manufacturer of the equipment, imported the system without losing time and now it has been installed at Mayo Hospital in Lahore where five patients have already been treated successfully. It is a ray of hope for cancer patients and speedy establishment of similar centres in other cities of the province will help provide immense relief to the growing number of patients. Other Chief Ministers may also study the system and consider replicating it in their provinces, making this modern facility available to more people.
