ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced government's commitment to providing state-of-the-art free healthcare facilities to deserving patients nationwide.

Addressing groundbreaking ceremony of Jinnah Medical Complex, he said that complex would be one of region's premier medical centres, offering 100 percent free medical treatment to needy.

"This is gift of coalition government not only for residents of Rawalpindi and Islamabad but for people from Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan as well," PM Shehbaz said.

He highlighted that completed medical complex would offer world-class healthcare facilities, including specialised departments for heart, kidney, lung and cancer treatments. Additionally, modern first aid emergency section with air ambulance services for remote areas will be established.

Nursing schools and laboratories will be integrated into hospital, ensuring deserving patients receive 100 percent free lab tests. He stressed that this model aligns with PML-N President Nawaz Sharif's vision of providing free medical services to poor while offering paid services to wealthier patients.

He expressed his gratitude to Chairman HBL Sultan Ali Allana and Prince Rahim Aga Khan for their free technical consultancy support for project. He acknowledged Aga Khan Foundation's long-standing contributions to country. He directed authorities to complete project within one year, despite challenging timeline, emphasising determination and continuous work.

He assured that government funding would not be an issue. He thanked Islamabad Chief Commissioner Ali Randhawa for providing land for project and expressed his appreciation for support from Finance Minister, Finance Secretary and Planning Minister.

He instructed provision of one-window facility to expedite their issues.

Health Coordinator Dr Mukhtar Ahmed, MNAs Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Hanif Abbasi and Raja Khurrum Nawaz also spoke.

Published in The Daily National Courier, July, 22 2024

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