The introduction of “Cyberknife Technology” has been given the go-ahead by the Chief Minister of Punjab, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, for both Jinnah Hospital in Lahore and Nishtar Hospital in Multan. This will allow the hospitals to provide free advanced services to patients and treat fatal diseases such as cancer and tumours using the technology. More advanced instruction on using this technology and offering treatment approaches will be provided to doctors working in the relevant disciplines. Before the launch of this project, the CyberKnife Technology could be accessed at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) at the Radiation Oncology Department of JPMC, where it was used to treat patients undergoing Tomotherapy. According to Doctor Yasmeen Rashid,
“Cyberknife therapy has been delivered to cancer patients in Punjab using the Sehat Sahulat Card, and data on cancer patients who are receiving treatment through this card will be gathered,”
The Cyberknife system is a non-invasive method of treating malignant and non-cancerous tumours and other disorders for which radiation therapy is required. It is effective in treating a wide variety of illnesses, including cancers of the prostate, lung, brain, spine, head and neck, liver, pancreas, kidneys, and some gynecologic reasons, among others. It is an alternate treatment option for people who either cannot undergo surgery or have tumours that are too complicated for surgeons to remove surgically.
While presiding over a meeting, the Chief Minister of Punjab said that the Punjab government had included this approach in the Health Card Program by way of Ghurki Hospital.
He divulged that the government would consider whether or not to elevate Allama Iqbal Medical College in Lahore to the rank of a university and that the necessary legislation would be enacted if an early decision was made.
The meeting was attended by several individuals, including Dr Abdul Majeed Ch, Dr Nadeem Hafeez Butt, the Principal Secretary to CM Muhammad Khan Bhatti, the Secretary of Finance, and the Special Secretary of Specialized Healthcare and Medical Education, amongst others. In addition, while the Prime Minister was presiding over a meeting to discuss the preparations, security plans, and other issues related to Raiwind Ijtima, he instructed the administration to finish the preparations on time while ensuring that CCTV surveillance was present at all entry and exit points. To accomplish this goal, extra surveillance cameras should be set up and additional police patrols; the number of traffic wardens should be raised to ensure a continuous traffic flow.
In a meeting that took place on Thursday, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid met with a team from the State Life Insurance Company. On behalf of State Life Insurance Company, attendees were Chairman Shoaib Javed, Divisional Head Muhammad Ashar, and Regional Chief Lahore Dr Noor.
Additional Secretary for the Finance Department At the meeting was Shahida Farrukh, AS Technical Dr Hafiz Shahid Latif, Saqib Aziz, CEO of the Punjab Healthcare Commission, Shamshad Ali Khan, COO of the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company, Hasnat Ahmed, Mian Zahid ul Rehman, and other officials who were responsible for the matter. During the meeting, Provincial Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid spoke with a team from the State Life Insurance Company about the steps that need to be taken to give cyberknife and other services via this Card.
Shoaib Javed, Chairman of State Life Insurance Company, said that the Department of Specialized Health Care and Medical Education would get complete support from the Company about the Card. He stated that this assistance would come in the form of funding. They are beginning with fundamental measures to give the most conveniences possible.
According to the available data, more than 2.4 million residents of Punjab have used their health cards to get free medical care, with a value of more than Rs 54 billion. As many as 794 public and private hospitals have been approved to participate in this Card’s network of providers of accessible medical care.
Dr Yasmin Rashid said that they are attempting to give the residents of Punjab the most significant number of benefits by using this Card. More than 55,100 people in Punjab have been allowed to receive free coronary angiography, more than 50,800 women have received an accessible facility for standard delivery, and more than 210,000 women have been allowed to receive a free caesarean section.
Through this Card, more than 165,000 individuals in Punjab have gotten free eye care, more than 36,100 people have received free chemotherapy, and more than 36,000 have had free hernia operations.
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