Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has announced a bold vision to transform the province into Pakistan’s foremost hub of healthcare innovation. At the National Research and Innovation Conference 2025 held at King Edward Medical University, he detailed plans for smart hospitals, telemedicine services, AI integration, and evidence‑based clinical practices across the province.

The government will establish artificial intelligence research labs and medical research fellowships in medical colleges province-wide. Students and faculty are being encouraged to showcase innovation at annual conferences to foster a research-driven ecosystem.

Under the leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, Punjab is advancing flagship healthcare projects, including the Children’s Heart Surgery Program, Dialysis Program, Transplant Initiative, Clinic‑on‑Wheels, and Field Hospitals. These initiatives are being integrated with smart technologies for efficiency and accessibility.

Education reforms are underway, with AI education introduced into undergraduate medical curricula, and health data management courses launched to train future doctors in tech-enabled healthcare delivery.

The government is also accelerating essential infrastructure upgrades, including the launch of digital systems such as a Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) to streamline operations and inventory management in public hospitals.

Stakeholders believe that innovation-friendly policies, along with expansion in telemedicine and digital research, will attract investment, improve patient care, and boost Punjab’s healthcare competitiveness both nationally and internationally.

Punjab’s transformation into a center of medical technology and innovation stands as a major milestone in its health sector modernization efforts.