ISLAMABAD, Oct 29 (APP): Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Syed Mustafa Kamal on Thursday said the Pak-China Friendship Hospital would provide free-of-cost treatment under a public-private partnership model, crediting the Prime Minister’s personal interest and efforts for the initiative.
Addressing the inauguration ceremony of the 182-bed hospital in Chak Shahzad, the minister said the Prime Minister had taken a keen personal interest in ensuring the facility became operational at the earliest.
He expressed confidence that the partnership model would help improve healthcare services in Islamabad and provide relief to patients.
The minister said Islamabad had 3,275 hospital beds in public hospitals when he assumed charge, adding that another 3,095 beds had since been added to public hospitals through government efforts. He credited the Prime Minister’s support for the expansion of healthcare infrastructure in the federal capital.
He said a 176-bed trauma centre at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) was ready, while a 200-bed cancer hospital at the same institution was expected to become operational next year. These facilities would further strengthen emergency and specialized healthcare services, he added.
The minister said public-sector hospitals in Islamabad served not only the local population but also patients arriving from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, placing additional demands on the capital’s healthcare infrastructure.
He emphasized that the government was committed to expanding healthcare facilities and ensuring access to quality treatment, particularly for people who relied on public hospitals.
He said the public-private partnership model would help improve service delivery and make healthcare more accessible.
The minister thanked the Chinese ambassador for China’s valuable contribution to Pakistan’s healthcare sector, describing the hospital as a significant gift and a reflection of the enduring friendship between Pakistan and China.
Source: APP (Associated Press of Pakistan)
