Punjab Government to Outsource ‘Clinic on Wheels’ Initiative

LAHORE: The Punjab government decided to outsource its Clinic on Wheels project, with the Health Department formally initiating steps to hand over administrative and operational management to private sector operators.

As part of the initiative, field-based mobile health units and rural ambulance services will also be managed through private sector partnerships. The Punjab Health Department has invited applications from private entities until 26 January, with a total of 791 mobile clinics and 590 rural ambulances set to be outsourced.

Provincial Minister for Health and Population, Khawaja Imran Nazir, said the move aims to improve healthcare delivery and strengthen the overall system, ensuring that medical facilities reach people directly, particularly in underserved rural areas.

The Clinics on Wheels project was inaugurated in May last year by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, and currently, 200 mobile clinics are providing healthcare services to around 4 million residents of the province.

Additionally, the Chief Minister announced plans to provide state-of-the-art cardiology facilities in eight cities, including Mianwali, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Jhelum, Sahiwal, Murree, and Layyah, further expanding access to specialized medical care across Punjab.