LAHORE
\nEvery time a heart patient from a remote district travels to Lahore for treatment, two people lose a day\u2019s work \u2014 the patient and their attendant. Multiply that across thousands of cases, and the economic toll on Pakistan\u2019s ailing population becomes clear.
\nTo address this growing burden, the Punjab government has launched an ambitious initiative to establish modern catheterisation laboratories (Cath labs) in smaller districts, aiming to bring advanced heart care closer to home and ease both medical and financial strain on citizens.
\nOfficials told Wealth Pakistan that the project will not only improve access to cardiac services but also stimulate local economies by creating jobs and reducing costly intercity travel for treatment.
\nDr. Muhammad Irfan, a medicine specialist, said that rising inflation has already forced many patients to compromise on essential healthcare. \u201cPeople are facing multiple issues and some have even stopped taking their medicines,\u201d he observed. \u201cHeart-related ailments are on the rise globally, and establishing Cath labs across Punjab will significantly reduce patients\u2019 travel expenses.\u201d
\nHe noted that a single-day round trip from Jhang to Lahore for heart check-ups can cost between Rs5,000 and Rs10,000, a prohibitive sum for most families. \u201cSetting up Cath labs in different districts is a positive initiative \u2014 it will generate jobs, lower travel and treatment costs, and bring relief to thousands,\u201d he added.
\nDr. Irfan said the move will also help ease the heavy patient load on major hospitals in Lahore.
\nIn the first phase, work has begun on new Cath labs in Kasur, Jhelum, Layyah, Vehari, Attock, Mianwali, Jhang, and Bahawalnagar, which are expected to become operational by the end of this year.
\nA senior government official told Wealth Pakistan that the second phase will include another eight districts \u2014 Rajanpur, Sheikhupura, Khanewal, Bhakkar, Toba Tek Singh, Mandi Bahauddin, Chakwal, and Hafizabad.
\n\u201cWith these facilities, the government aims to ensure quick, quality treatment for heart patients at their doorstep,\u201d he said. \u201cPeople will no longer need to travel to major cities like Lahore or Islamabad to receive modern cardiac care.\u201d
\nHe added that the government plans to deploy highly qualified cardiologists \u2014 including specialists with FCPS, MD, and American Board of Cardiology certifications \u2014 at district headquarters hospitals to ensure high-quality interventional treatment.
\nDr. Irfan said that leveraging technology to expand healthcare access in rural and smaller districts is vital.
\n\u201cThis initiative will be a blessing for all communities where these labs are established,\u201d he remarked.
\nAli Raza, a teacher at Government College University, Lahore, said that an ailing population is a drag on both local productivity and the national economy. \u201cAfter developing heart disease, a patient often needs a family member to accompany them to Lahore,\u201d he explained. \u201cThat means on every travel day, both the patient and the attendant lose working hours or business income.\u201d
\nHe said the new labs will not only improve healthcare access but also create employment for medical professionals, support staff, and local pharmaceutical suppliers. \u201cBy reducing the need to travel to major cities, families can stay economically active while still accessing life-saving treatment,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
LAHORE Every time a heart patient from a remote district travels to Lahore for treatment, two people lose a day\u2019s work \u2014 the patient and their attendant. Multiply that across thousands of cases, and the economic toll on Pakistan\u2019s ailing population becomes clear. To address this growing burden, the Punjab government has launched an ambitious […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":510067,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-510047","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n