By Qasim Ali
LAHORE,: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has set a target to make 24 additional primary stroke centers functional across the province by June 30 under the CM Stroke Program, aiming to significantly improve emergency response and treatment for stroke patients.Chairing a special meeting on Friday, the chief minister also approved the formation of a 12-member advisory committee for the program. The committee will be headed by Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, while Professor Qasim Bashir has been appointed as its convener.During the briefing, it was informed that 15 primary stroke centers were already operational, where around 700 stroke patients had received life-saving injections, helping prevent lifelong disabilities. Stroke management centers are currently functional at major hospitals in Lahore, including Services Hospital, Mayo Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, and Punjab Institute of Neurosciences. Similar facilities are also working in cities such as Bahawalpur,
Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Narowal, Rahim Yar Khan, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Bhakkar, and Layyah.Under Phase-I of the expansion plan, new primary stroke centers will be established in cities including Gujrat, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Vehari, Jhelum, Kasur, Mandi Bahauddin, Sheikhupura, Toba Tek Singh, and Khanewal. Phase-II will further extend services to 17 more cities, including Chakwal, Pakpattan, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Mianwali, Bahawalnagar, Hafizabad, Chiniot, Lodhran, Khushab, Okara, Attock, Nankana Sahib, Wazirabad, Murree, Kot Addu, and Talagang.The chief minister also approved the establishment of four additional mechanical thrombectomy centers to provide advanced stroke treatment. Comprehensive stroke centers are already operational at Punjab Institute of Neurosciences Lahore and Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology, with plans to expand such facilities to more cities. New stroke centers will also be set up at Holy Family Hospital, Allied Hospital, Nishtar Hospital, and Bahawal Victoria Hospital.Maryam Nawaz Sharif emphasized that neurologists and neurosurgeons would be appointed at these centers, while specially trained doctors would ensure immediate treatment for stroke patients. Each primary stroke center would be linked with a nearby neurology facility, and dedicated stroke bays would be established to provide rapid and specialized care, aiming to improve patient outcomes across Punjab.
