Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif directed health authorities on Wednesday to eliminate delays in medical services across the province, especially in cardiac care, calling timely treatment “non-negotiable.”

She issued the orders while chairing a review meeting in Lahore, where the performance of the cardiology centres in Murree, Sahiwal and Sargodha came under detailed scrutiny.

Officials also presented a performance report of all 57 specialised hospitals in Punjab.

Maryam said even a moment’s delay in treating heart patients was unacceptable, and expressed strong displeasure over delays in installing cardiology equipment.

She instructed that all hospitals be completed without further hold-ups and that machinery and medical tools be installed immediately.

The chief minister directed authorities to make the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology in Murree fully functional by April.

She also ordered the swift completion of the cardiac surgery theatre in Murree, along with the rapid hiring of doctors and installation of remaining equipment.

Officials briefed the meeting that the Sahiwal Institute of Cardiology was treating an average of 180 patients daily, performing 59 angiographies, six angioplasties and three bypass surgeries each day.

Across Punjab’s specialised hospitals, millions of patients are benefiting from OPD, emergency, surgeries, MRI, CT scans, echocardiography and angiography services.

The government is providing medicines worth billions of rupees free of cost, and aims to further improve the efficiency and timeliness of care.