LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday laid the foundation of Pakistan’s first government-funded cancer hospital named “Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital”, which she described as a “long-awaited dream come true.”
She said that the hospital will offer life-saving treatment for cancer patients from across Pakistan, without turning any patient away.
“This is not just the cornerstone of a building but a beacon of hope for millions,” said CM Nawaz during the ceremony, where she outlined the hospital’s Rs55 billion construction plan.
The facility, with 920 beds, will be completed in two phases, with the first phase operational by 2025 and the full completion by 2027.
Maryam Nawaz emphasized that the hospital’s doors would remain open to patients from across the country, highlighting Punjab’s commitment to providing healthcare access to all, regardless of region.
“Cancer treatment is extraordinarily expensive, and while resources may be plentiful, they are often inaccessible. We’re here to change that,” she said adding, “Those who question the naming of this hospital after Nawaz Sharif should ask themselves why others in leadership haven’t undertaken a project of this scale. Public service has always been top priority of Nawaz, Shehbaz Sharif and me.”
She said that the new cancer hospital will include accommodations for patients’ families, ensuring support for those receiving long-term care.
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Maryam Nawaz pointed to recent developments across Punjab’s healthcare system, including a cardiology centre in Sargodha and Pakistan’s first air ambulance service, as evidence of her administration’s commitment to accessible healthcare.
She also praised the impact of mobile health clinics, which provide doorstep care to thousands of people daily.
Acknowledging the past challenges in Pakistan’s healthcare system, Maryam Nawaz promised that hospitals would no longer face shortages of free medicines, an issue that had affected the public in recent years.
She added that the provincial government plans to offer incentives, including housing, transportation, and higher salaries, to attract talented doctors back to Pakistan.
“I wish there is magic wand to fix everything overnight, but we are on the path of progress. You will continue to see more improvements in the coming years,” she said.