Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has inaugurated the country’s first advanced co-ablation cancer treatment facility at Mayo Hospital, Lahore, positioning Punjab as a pioneer in adopting this cutting-edge technology, which has yet to be introduced in neighboring India.
At the inauguration ceremony, the Chief Minister revealed that two successful surgeries have already been performed using the newly installed system, bringing renewed hope to cancer patients. She shared that she first reviewed this technology during her recent visit to China and ordered its immediate import to Pakistan. Additional equipment is also being procured to expand treatment options for different cancer types.
Maryam Nawaz directed the installation of five more ablation machines across Punjab and emphasized the need to appoint master trainers to prepare a skilled team of doctors and medical staff. She met with the medical professionals at the new center, praised their dedication, and also interacted with patients currently undergoing treatment.
Senior Radiologist Dr. Shehzad Kareem Bhatti explained that the technology works by freezing cancer cells at -198°C with liquid nitrogen, followed by heating them up to 83°C, destroying the targeted cells within 60 to 120 minutes. Patients are typically able to walk just hours after the procedure, though the treatment costs about Rs1.6 million per case.
The machine is currently being used for the treatment of liver, lung, and breast cancers. The Chief Minister also spoke with the first five patients successfully treated, including Rana Muhammad Asghar, who has been cured of liver cancer. The patients expressed heartfelt gratitude, describing Maryam Nawaz as their benefactor.
Dr. Bhatti, along with a team of bioengineers and technicians, has already undergone specialized training in China to operate the new system effectively.
CM Maryam Nawaz hats off to u. Pakistani Nation Prouds on u.