Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman Buzdar says emergency department of Punjab Institute of Cardiology has been made operational.

In a statement in Lahore on Saturday, he said Punjab government has decided to legislate for protection of hospitals, doctors, paramedics and patients as well.

He said that Health Professionals Security Bill will soon be tabled in the cabinet.

The Punjab Institute of Cardiology shut down on Thursday all of its OPDs and other wards after a mob of lawyers attacked and stormed the hospital on December 11.

Doctors, nurses and other paramedic staff have announced a strike. Patients at the hospital have been discharged and those in critical condition have been shifted to other hospitals.

The PIC is the biggest cardiac hospital in Lahore. Its windows were smashed and doctors and nurses were attacked with sticks and stones on Wednesday when lawyers stormed the building. A police mobile was also burned, as was a police check post.

Almost 25 doctors were injured and the Punjab Information Minister Fayyazul Hassan Chohan was also attacked by the lawyers.

Police have been positioned outside the hospital and the deployment of Rangers has been approved by the Punjab government.