Maryam distributes stroke cards, says treatment must not stop due to lack of frunds

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif on Thursday distributed stroke cards at Lahore General Hospital and directed authorities to ensure that no patient's treatment was delayed or halted due to lack of funds. Addressing the stroke card distribution ceremony, Maryam Nawaz said Punjab was the country's most populous province and that serving as its chief minister was not an easy responsibility. She added that being entrusted with such a position by Allah was also a blessing. She said strokes could occur without warning and recalled seeing a young patient whose life was saved after receiving an injection in time. She highlighted the importance of timely treatment and public awareness to prevent deaths and disabilities caused by strokes. Maryam said the stroke programme was being launched for the general public, noting that awareness about strokes remained limited. She added that measures had been taken to support the rehabilitation of stroke patients. Maryam Nawaz stressed that awareness was essential for stroke prevention and said the number of primary stroke centres had been increased over the past few months. She said 40 primary stroke centres were operational in 23 districts, while 15 more were under development. She emphasised that timely treatment after a stroke was crucial, adding that an injection used to treat the condition costs Rs300,000, an amount that poor patients cannot afford. The chief minister also said the world's largest cancer hospital was being built in Lahore and would become operational soon. Cancer centres were also being established in every division, she added. Maryam Nawaz said a state-of-the-art Nawaz Sharif Hospital had been built in Sargodha, while catheterisation laboratories were being established in 20 districts. She claimed that more work was being carried out in the health sector than ever before. According to the chief minister, 100 million people received treatment at government hospitals over the past year, while free medicines were provided to 100 million people. She further said that 16,000 children had undergone heart surgery in Punjab. The Chief Minister announced an additional Rs5 billion for stroke treatment and pledged to establish stroke centres, cardiac facilities, paediatric centres and cancer hospitals at every divisional headquarters across the province. She also announced that heart transplant surgeries would begin soon at the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology. She visited the institute's intensive care unit and control room, observed neurosurgical procedures from the operating theatre gallery and interacted with patients. She also witnessed the rehabilitation of stroke patients through robotic physiotherapy. She said timely treatment was critical in stroke cases, as patients had a window of four to five hours during which medical intervention could significantly improve their chances of recovery. She urged people to seek immediate medical assistance if they experienced symptoms such as arm weakness or difficulty in speaking, and advised them to call Rescue 1122 without delay. High blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol could increase the risk of stroke, she said, stressing that its symptoms should never be ignored. She pointed out that the cost of the TNK injection used in stroke treatment was beyond the reach of many ordinary people, while travelling from distant districts such as Rahim Yar Khan to Lahore for treatment posed additional difficulties. The establishment of local stroke facilities would help patients access timely care closer to home, she added. Stroke treatment was also available at PINS/General Hospital, Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology and Sheikh Zayed Hospital, while services were being extended to Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi and hospitals in Multan and Faisalabad. She urged people to have confidence in Pakistani doctors and healthcare institutions, saying the province was working to improve the standard and accessibility of specialised medical care.