PM inaugurates revamped Pakistan-China Friendship Hospital

Islamabad: On Thursday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally unveiled the restored Pakistan-China Friendship Hospital, instructing health officials to guarantee free, high-quality medical care for patients from throughout Pakistan. Emphasizing the importance of utilizing public resources for the greater good rather than allowing them to go to waste through neglect, the Prime Minister underscored the necessity of maintaining the facility.

National Health Services and Regulations Minister Mustafa Kamal reported to the Prime Minister about the hospital's initial status as an Isolation Hospital and Infectious Treatment Centre (IHITC) gifted by China during the COVID-19 pandemic, which fell into disrepair after the pandemic. The hospital's revival under its new name aims to restore a vital national asset and deliver modern medical services, especially to those who cannot afford costly treatment.

Upon visiting the site, the Prime Minister engaged with patients, reaffirming his government’s dedication to providing free treatment via professionally managed healthcare facilities. The renovated hospital comprises 182 beds, including 50 intensive care unit beds, and is poised to serve citizens from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and other regions.

The government will cover all patient care expenses, while the Indus Hospital and Health Network will provide professional management and expertise to ensure smooth operations and superior services.

During the inauguration, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif lamented the prolonged closure of the hospital, calling it a painful example of failing to address the needs of impoverished and vulnerable populations. He disclosed that he had reacted swiftly upon becoming aware of the hospital's condition through a newspaper article and directed the health minister to expedite the restoration process.

The Prime Minister expressed regret to the Chinese ambassador and the Chinese people for the years during which the facility remained inoperative. He affirmed that the government would bear all treatment costs, while the Indus Hospital and Health Network would manage the facility under a public-private partnership model. The Prime Minister's firsthand experience with hospitals managed by the network convinced him that entrusting public healthcare institutions to competent organizations could improve service delivery, efficiency, and accountability.