LAHORE: The Punjab government has expanded its healthcare outreach beyond provincial boundaries by dispatching six “Clinic on Wheels” mobile health units to Gilgit-Baltistan, aiming to improve access to medical services in remote and underserved areas.
Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir said the fully equipped mobile clinics have been sent as a goodwill gesture to support primary healthcare delivery in the northern region.
According to the minister, the units are stocked with essential medicines and basic diagnostic facilities to cater to communities with limited access to hospitals.
He said Punjab’s public health services are now extending beyond the province to ensure that people living in far-flung areas receive timely treatment and basic medical care at their doorstep.
“Our objective is to take healthcare to the people, especially those living in remote and hard-to-reach regions,” the minister said while briefing the media.
Khawaja Imran Nazir added that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz is committed to serving people across Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and other parts of the country, reflecting a broader vision of inclusive and equitable healthcare.
According to the health minister, the decision to expand the “Clinic on Wheels” programme beyond Punjab was taken in response to repeated public demand for mobile health services in other provinces and regions.
He said the initiative has proven effective in improving primary healthcare access within Punjab, particularly in rural districts.
Officials said the Punjab government aims to bring essential healthcare services closer to underserved communities through mobile units that can reach areas where permanent health infrastructure is either limited or unavailable.
The move is part of a wider effort to strengthen primary healthcare delivery and improve medical outreach in remote and mountainous regions across Pakistan, where access to hospitals remains a persistent challenge.
Health experts say mobile clinics can play a crucial role in bridging healthcare gaps, especially in regions with difficult terrain, by providing preventive care, basic treatment, and timely referrals.
The Punjab government has indicated that further collaboration with other regions may be considered if the initiative proves successful in Gilgit-Baltistan.
