LAHORE, PAKISTAN: In a landmark move for public healthcare, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has announced free palliative care for stage III and IV cancer patients at the newly inaugurated Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research in Lahore. The facility, the first of its kind under the provincial government, is being hailed as a turning point in the province’s efforts to make life-saving treatment accessible to all, regardless of financial status.
The institute will be developed in two phases, with 915 beds in total and the first phase expected to be completed within a year. The facility will include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, surgical oncology, endoscopy, pediatric oncology, and emergency services equipped with modern infrastructure. A bone marrow transplant unit, staff residences, and accommodation for patients’ attendants are also part of the project’s comprehensive design.
Speaking at the foundation ceremony, CM Maryam Nawaz emphasized that “no patient should be denied care due to lack of funds,” underlining her government’s focus on welfare-driven reforms in the health sector. The institute aims to provide completely free treatment for patients battling advanced stages of cancer, a step expected to ease the enormous burden on families struggling with rising healthcare costs.
The initiative is part of Punjab’s broader strategy to expand access to specialized medical services across the province. Recruitment for oncologists and expert staff has begun, with incentives being offered to both local and international professionals to ensure top-tier medical care.
Analysts, however, stress that the real challenge lies in sustaining quality and consistency once operations begin — from securing medicine supplies to maintaining specialized staff and equipment. Yet, the move has already been praised by health advocates as a “bold and necessary intervention” in a country where public cancer care remains severely limited.
This story has been reported by PakTribune. All rights reserved.