Punjab Accelerates Stroke Care Mission: Top Priority for Stroke Patients on CM Maryam Nawaz’s Directives, Says Prof. Qasim Bashir

By Dr Ansab Ali
Lahore, Pakistan
LAHORE, May 22: In line with the healthcare vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Provincial Focal Person for the Stroke Program Prof. Dr. Qasim Bashir conducted a detailed inspection visit to DHQ Teaching Hospital Narowal to review the implementation of the provincial stroke management programme and emergency healthcare services for stroke patients.
The visit focused on evaluating emergency response efficiency, ICU operations and specialised treatment protocols for acute stroke management at the facility.
During the visit, Prof. Dr. Qasim Bashir held specialised training and awareness sessions for doctors, nursing staff and allied healthcare professionals. The sessions focused on advanced stroke management techniques, rapid diagnosis, timely thrombolysis treatment and emergency interventions during the critical “golden hour” following a stroke.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Dr. Qasim Bashir said the Punjab government is committed to ensuring immediate and state-of-the-art healthcare facilities for stroke patients in order to reduce mortality and long-term disabilities. He stated that DHQ Teaching Hospital Narowal is among the first 15 dedicated stroke centres established across Punjab under the provincial healthcare initiative.
The Provincial Focal Person appreciated the professional capabilities and dedication of the hospital administration and medical teams, including Medical Superintendent Dr. Afzal Rajput, Head of Medicine Dr. Sheraz Anjum, Head of Pediatrics Dr. Usman, faculty members of the Anesthesia Department and ICU nursing staff.
Prof. Dr. Qasim Bashir expressed satisfaction over the hospital’s modern infrastructure, advanced diagnostic facilities and trained healthcare workforce. He reiterated that standardised medical protocols, swift treatment systems and strong referral mechanisms are being implemented across district and teaching hospitals throughout Punjab to ensure timely treatment for stroke patients.
He expressed confidence that DHQ Teaching Hospital Narowal would continue to serve as a model institution in providing quality and timely healthcare services to the public.