Punjab govt decides to establish stroke centre in every division

By Dr Ansab Ali Lahore Pakistan

LAHORE: The Punjab government has decided to establish a dedicated stroke centre in every division to ensure timely treatment for stroke patients, with 40 primary stroke centres already operational and another 17 expected to be completed by December.

The decision was taken during a meeting chaired by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif to review progress under the Chief Minister’s Stroke Programme.

The meeting was informed that 336 stroke patients had received timely treatment at designated stroke centres, helping save lives and prevent permanent disabilities.

According to the briefing, the 40 functional primary stroke centres have trained doctors and medical staff, while 710 TNK injections are currently available at these facilities.

The government also plans to establish neuroangiography suites this year at Teaching Hospital Rawalpindi, Allied Hospital Faisalabad, Nishtar-II Multan and Teaching Hospital Sargodha.

Comprehensive stroke centres are already operational at the Punjab Institute of Neurosciences Lahore and Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology.

In Lahore, primary stroke centres have been established at Services Hospital, Mayo Hospital, Ganga Ram Hospital, Jinnah Hospital, General Hospital, Children’s Hospital and Shahdara Teaching Hospital.

The meeting was further informed that stroke treatment injections were available at Nishtar Hospital Multan, Allama Iqbal Hospital Sialkot, Sheikh Zayed Hospital Rahim Yar Khan, Holy Family Hospital Rawalpindi, Allied Hospital Faisalabad, Victoria Hospital Bahawalpur and Allama Iqbal Hospital Dera Ghazi Khan.

Primary stroke centres have also been made functional at district headquarters hospitals in Sheikhupura, Mandi Bahauddin, Kasur, Khanewal, Vehari and Multan.

Stroke treatment injections are additionally available at DHQ hospitals in Bhakkar, Layyah, Gujranwala, Narowal, Jhang, Jhelum, Toba Tek Singh, Sahiwal and Gujrat.

The government has also established stroke centres at Children’s Hospitals in Multan and Faisalabad, Sadiq Abbasi Hospital Bahawalpur, Nishtar-II, Teaching Hospital Sargodha and Allied Hospital-II Faisalabad.