Punjab CM to launch children’s cardiac surgery program

LAHORE: In a first in the country, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif is going to launch the “Chief Minister’s Children’s Heart Surgery Programme,” aimed at enhancing paediatric cardiac care across the province.
The program is set to establish a comprehensive system for paediatric heart surgeries by recruiting highly skilled cardiac surgeons specialising in child care. 
In a meeting chaired by Provincial Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique at the Department of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education, the programme was thoroughly reviewed.
Mr Rafique said the program, to be inaugurated by the CM soon, will significantly improve paediatric heart surgery services across Punjab and also serve as a model for other provinces. 
A dedicated online dashboard, developed in collaboration with the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB), will ensure continuous monitoring of the project’s progress, with all procedures to be conducted in accordance with standard operating procedures (SOPs) and within stipulated timeframes, he added.
The minister said the primary objective of the programme is to save lives. “Even if just one child’s life is saved, this initiative will achieve its noble purpose,” he remarked.
The meeting was attended by Secretary Health Punjab Azmat Mehmood Khan, Additional Secretary Development Dr. Waheed Asghar Bhatti, Punjab Institute of Cardiology Chairman Prof Farqad Alamgir, University of Child Health Sciences Vice Chancellor Prof Masood Sadiq, Punjab Health Initiative Management Company CEO Dr. Ali Razzaq, and PITB Director Nausheen, among others.
Experts at the meeting said that children and adolescents can suffer from various heart conditions, including congenital defects, infections, and diseases acquired through illnesses or genetic syndromes. With timely and effective treatment, many of these young patients can lead active and fulfilling lives.