LAHORE: Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has set June 30 as the deadline for setting up 24 more primary stroke centres across the province to improve emergency treatment for stroke patients.
She gave the instructions while presiding over a meeting in Lahore on Friday to review the province’s anti-stroke programme.
During the meeting, the chief minister also approved the formation of a 12-member advisory committee for the anti-stroke programme. The committee will be headed by Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, while Prof Qasim Bashir will serve as its convener.
Officials informed the meeting that 15 primary stroke centres are already working in Punjab. So far, around 700 stroke patients have been given life-saving injections, helping many avoid permanent disability.
At present, stroke management centres are operating at major hospitals in Lahore, including Services Hospital, Mayo Hospital, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, and the Punjab Institute of Neurosciences.
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Besides Lahore, primary stroke centres are also functional in Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan, Narowal, Rahim Yar Khan, Rawalpindi, Sialkot, Bhakkar, and Layyah.
Under Phase-I of the expansion plan, new stroke centres will be set up in Gujrat, Sargodha, Sahiwal, Vehari, Jhelum, Kasur, Mandi Bahauddin, Sheikhupura, Toba Tek Singh, and Khanewal.
In Phase-II, the programme will be expanded 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.
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The chief minister also approved the establishment of four more mechanical thrombectomy centres for advanced stroke treatment.
Maryam Nawaz said that neurologists and neurosurgeons would be appointed at these centres. She added that specially trained doctors would also be posted to ensure quick treatment for stroke patients.
She further directed that every primary stroke centre should be linked with a nearby neurology facility so that patients can receive timely and proper care.
