The Punjab Chief Minister, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, has approved the Diaspora Doctor Locum Programme (DDLP), an initiative to bring overseas Pakistani and foreign specialist doctors to perform advanced surgeries and provide medical services in 12 public sector hospitals across the province. The approval came during a meeting of the Punjab Specialised Healthcare Department, where the chief minister chaired discussions on the programme's implementation.
Programme Details and Objectives
Under the DDLP, experienced and reputable Pakistani and foreign specialist doctors will be engaged for short-term assignments in Punjab's government hospitals. Overseas specialists participating in the programme will be allowed to perform up to eight advanced surgical procedures during their tenures. The government has selected 12 hospitals for the programme, and a dashboard and operational web portal will be established to facilitate registration, credential verification, commitments, appointment procedures, payment mechanisms, and reporting systems.
Eligibility criteria for participating doctors include postgraduate qualifications, at least three years of overseas fellowship experience, and a valid fitness certificate. Participating doctors will be required to serve in Punjab for a minimum period of 15 days. The chief minister directed authorities to establish a comprehensive web portal to ensure transparency and efficiency in the initiative.
Upcoming Inaugurations of Major Health Institutes
During the meeting, participants were informed that the inauguration of the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology, Sargodha, was expected on July 15, the NS Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research on July 31, and the Jinnah Institute of Cardiology in Lahore on August 15. The chief minister approved the plan to inaugurate the institute of cardiology in Sargodha on July 15 and was shown a documentary on the institute. She praised its construction quality, remarking that it resembled a major hospital in Saudi Arabia.
Officials confirmed that 'Packages A and B' of the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer Treatment and Research would be completed by July 31, and it was agreed that the hospital would be inaugurated on that day. The Jinnah Institute of Cardiology will be inaugurated on August 15.
Impact on Healthcare Delivery
The chief minister received detailed briefings regarding progress on the institutes and healthcare service delivery in the province. It was informed that free treatment had been provided to 22 million patients across Punjab. Under the CM Children's Heart Surgery Programme, 13,550 free surgeries have been completed. Officials also reported that medicines had been delivered free of charge to 728,000 patients at their doorsteps.
Foreign specialists participating in the programme will also train local healthcare professionals. The chief minister also ordered the launch of a similar initiative for the nursing sector. "Bringing the best human resource to Punjab is my mission," she said, adding that foreign specialist doctors and nurses would be offered attractive packages. She stressed that hospital directors must be highly efficient and proactive, observing that quality nursing care could transform healthcare outcomes. The chief minister said highly trained doctors and nurses would be welcomed at the Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital.
