Lahore: Khawaja Salman Rafique, Punjab Minister for Health, visited Institute of Nuclear Medicine & Oncology (INMOL) on Wednesday, where he reviewed medical facilities and distributed health cards to cancer patients under the Chief Minister’s special healthcare programme.
During the visit, the minister was accompanied by Dr Ali Razaq, Shamshad Ali Khan, Mian Muneeb, and officials from State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan.
The minister toured various wards of the hospital and appreciated the quality of healthcare services being provided to cancer patients. He highlighted that the Chief Minister’s Special Programme for Cancer Patients, launched in March 2026, aims to provide accessible and affordable treatment to residents across the province.
Speaking on the occasion, Rafique stated that all permanent residents of Punjab are eligible for the programme, with an annual treatment limit of Rs1 million per patient. The provincial government has allocated Rs13 billion for the initiative.
He further revealed that more than 12,000 patients have already been registered within the first 15 days of the programme’s launch. To date, over Rs32 billion has been spent on cancer treatment under the Chief Minister’s Special Initiative.
Emphasising transparency and efficiency, the minister stressed the importance of improving service quality and strengthening monitoring systems to ensure better patient care.
Later, Rafique chaired a meeting at the Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Department, where officials briefed him on the monitoring framework, service delivery mechanisms, and measures taken to enhance patient convenience. Public feedback on the Chief Minister’s health programmes was also reviewed during the session.