Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed serious concerns about the state of healthcare in the province, highlighting issues such as the theft of medicines and the outsourcing of medical tests in government hospitals.

Speaking at a ceremony in Lahore, she emphasized the challenges faced by the healthcare system, stating, “Every day brings new issues. Medicines are stolen, and patients are directed to seek tests outside the hospitals. This is a major problem we are committed to resolving.” She also discussed the increasing security risks along Punjab’s border areas, which she referred to as a significant concern.

Maryam acknowledged the shortcomings in the healthcare sector, particularly in delivering quality services to Punjab’s 140 million residents. “The healthcare facilities are far from adequate, and these issues weigh heavily on my mind,” she shared.

A key issue Maryam highlighted was the lack of a service-oriented mindset in the healthcare sector. “Our national tragedy is that many in health-related roles treat their work as just a job, without understanding its true value,” she stated.

She also condemned the theft of medicines and noted that security personnel in hospitals had been found accepting money for patient admissions. “It’s unimaginable that even the poorest patients’ medicines are stolen, and they are forced to seek tests elsewhere,” she added.