PM Shehbaz inaugurates Pakistan-China Friendship Hospital, announces free treatment

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday inaugurated the Pakistan-China Friendship Hospital in Islamabad, announcing that the government would bear all its operating expenses and provide free treatment to patients from across the country.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, the prime minister described the hospital as a lasting symbol of the friendship between Pakistan and China, saying Beijing had gifted the facility to Pakistan during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Sharif expressed regret over the hospital’s closure after the pandemic, describing it as extremely unfortunate and an instance of criminal negligence.

He said the facility would retain the name Pakistan-China Friendship Hospital permanently, reflecting the enduring relationship between the two countries and the vision of the Chinese leadership.

The prime minister said providing better healthcare to citizens was the state’s responsibility and that serving people in the health sector was among the most important forms of public service.

He said that patients arriving from Islamabad and other parts of the country would receive treatment at the hospital free of charge.

Sharif also acknowledged the role of Indus Hospital’s management, saying it had offered reasonable concessions in annual operating expenses and investment requirements.

He said those working to serve the public would continue to receive people’s prayers and that there was no greater national service than helping people in distress.

Public-private partnership

Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the hospital would operate under a public-private partnership.

He said Islamabad’s public hospitals had 3,275 beds in March 2025, while the capital’s growing population had placed increasing pressure on existing healthcare facilities.

Kamal said the restoration of the Prime Minister’s Health Card programme had brought 15 private hospitals into the system, expanding access to healthcare.

He also announced that a 200-bed cancer hospital at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) was expected to become operational next year.

The health minister credited the prime minister’s guidance for progress in the healthcare sector and thanked the Chinese government for its gift to the Pakistani people.

China hails hospital’s restoration

Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong praised Sharif’s personal interest and patronage in the hospital’s revival, describing the facility as an important symbol of Pakistan-China friendship.

He welcomed the decision to retain the name Pakistan-China Friendship Hospital and paid tribute to those who had contributed to its construction and development.

The ambassador also said Pakistan had achieved significant successes under Sharif’s leadership.

The hospital’s inauguration marks an effort to restore a healthcare facility originally gifted by China during the Covid-19 pandemic, with the government committing to fund its operations and ensure free treatment for patients.

Clarify the hospital’s operating arrangementRemove repetition about free treatment