In a major healthcare overhaul, CM Maryam Nawaz has announced the establishment of modern cath labs for heart patients in 16 districts across Punjab
The new cath labs will allow DHQ hospitals to perform life-saving procedures like angioplasty, previously only available in major cities.
Punjab to Establish Cath Labs in 16 District Hospitals
LAHORE - In a landmark move to revolutionize cardiac care in Punjab, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has fulfilled another major promise, announcing the establishment of state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization laboratories (cath labs)** in **16 district-level government hospitals. This ambitious initiative aims to bring life-saving procedures like angioplasty directly to the doorsteps of citizens, eliminating the critical and often fatal delays patients face when traveling to major cities for emergency treatment.
The directive has already set in motion a massive recruitment drive for top-tier medical professionals. The Directorate General Health Services Punjab has begun the process of hiring highly qualified interventional cardiologists, medical officers, nurses, and technologists to staff these new facilities. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has emphasized that this is a phased program that will eventually expand to every district, ensuring every citizen has access to the best possible cardiac care.
A Paradigm Shift in Public Cardiac Care
For decades, the public healthcare system in Punjab has been characterized by a stark urban-rural divide. Advanced and specialized medical facilities, particularly for disciplines like interventional cardiology, have been concentrated almost exclusively in major metropolises. This has created a system where a patient suffering a heart attack in a smaller district faces a desperate and perilous race against time.
The decision to establish fully equipped cath labs at the District Headquarter (DHQ) hospital level is a direct and powerful response to this long-standing healthcare disparity. Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz articulated this vision clearly. "Patients will no longer have to travel to big cities for angioplasty," she stated. "It will be possible to provide immediate relief to patients."
The 16 Districts in the First Phase
The first phase of this historic project will target 16 districts, many of which are in underserved regions. The districts slated to receive new cath labs are: Attock, Jhelum, Mianwali, Kasur, Jhang, Vehari, Bahawalnagar, Layyah, Toba Tek Singh, Sheikhupura, Khanewal, Rajanpur, Bhakkar, Chakwal, Mandi Bahauddin, and Hafizabad.
Recruiting the Best Talent: A Call for Top Cardiologists
A state-of-the-art facility is only as good as the medical professionals who run it. Recognizing this, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has issued a strict directive to ensure that these new cath labs are staffed by the best talent available.
The Directorate General Health Services Punjab has officially commenced the recruitment process. The government is actively seeking the services of the "best interventional cardiologists," requiring advanced postgraduate qualifications such as FCPS, MD, or diplomas from the American Board of Cardiology.
In addition to the lead cardiologists, each cath lab will be staffed with a full team of experienced Medical Officers, specialized cardiology nurses, and Medical Imaging Technologists. "We will ensure the presence of not only the best doctors but also the entire staff in the district cath labs," the Chief Minister affirmed.
What is a Cath Lab? Understanding the Lifesaving Technology
A cardiac catheterization laboratory, or cath lab, is a specialized room in a hospital with advanced diagnostic imaging equipment used to visualize the arteries of the heart. The most common and life-saving procedure performed in a cath lab is angioplasty.
When a patient suffers a heart attack, it is usually because a coronary artery has become blocked. In an angioplasty, an interventional cardiologist threads a thin tube (a catheter) to the heart. They can then use tiny balloons to open the blocked artery and often place a small wire mesh tube called a stent to keep it open. This procedure, when performed quickly, can restore blood flow, prevent permanent damage to the heart, and save the patient's life. The establishment of these 16 new cath labs means this gold-standard treatment will now be available to millions in their home districts.