Hundreds of patients with life-threatening organ failure are facing long delays in Lahore as limited transplant facilities struggle to meet demand under the Chief Minister’s (CM) free transplant program.
Only a few public and private hospitals in the city currently offer liver, kidney, bone marrow, corneal and cochlear transplant services, increasing pressure on existing facilities.
According to official figures, 1,944 transplant procedures have been completed under the program, including 311 liver, 960 kidney, 601 cochlear, 40 bone marrow and 32 corneal transplants.
Health experts and patients’ families say demand has outpaced capacity, with many patients waiting months for appointments, evaluations and final approval for surgery.
A health department official said most liver and kidney transplants in Lahore are being performed at the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI), while most bone marrow cases are handled by Lahore Children’s Hospital.
Kidney transplant facilities are also available at Jinnah Hospital and Lahore General Hospital, with several private hospitals also participating in the program.
Official reports show that around Rs. 2.5 billion was allocated for the initiative, but the cost of procedures already carried out has crossed Rs. 4.87 billion.
The Punjab Health Initiative Management Company (PHIMC), which runs the scheme, says the program is meant to remove financial barriers for low-income families unable to afford transplant treatment.
Patients must first register and receive approval from the Punjab Human Organ Transplantation Authority (PHOTA). Once approved, transplant costs are paid directly to hospitals by the State Life Insurance Corporation under the government-backed healthcare framework.