Islamabad’s COVID-Era Isolation Hospital Reopens With Free Treatment for All

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif officially reopened the 250-bed Pak-China Friendship Hospital in Islamabad, announcing that all patients across the nation would receive free medical treatment. Originally constructed with Chinese assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, the hospital had been abandoned after the crisis ended, despite ongoing healthcare demands.

Speaking at the inauguration, the prime minister praised Chinese President Xi Jinping for his support and criticized the previous administration for neglecting the facility. He emphasized that the hospital's closure highlighted the government's failure to prioritize healthcare for the most vulnerable. The hospital, renamed from Margalla Hospital, will provide comprehensive medical services including patient wards, laboratories, and administrative offices.

Construction took just 40 days by the Frontier Works Organization, with China contributing a $4 million grant. The hospital's total cost was approximately Rs. 980 million. IHHN will now manage the facility in a public-private partnership, following federal approval.