LAHORE: Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz says free medicines are being delivered to tuberculosis (TB) patients at their doorsteps across the province as a part of government’s efforts to eliminate the disease.

Reaffirming her commitment to fight against TB, she said on Tuesday that eliminating the disease was essential for a healthy Punjab. She emphasised that timely diagnosis and effective treatment could save lives and called for greater public awareness about TB.

The CM said the provincial government was providing free diagnostic and treatment facilities, including medicines and PCR tests, at public hospitals.

“Under the DOTS (Directly Observed Therapy, Short-course), complete treatment is being ensured free of cost at district and tehsil hospitals, while lady health workers are also engaged in active case finding at the household level.”

She said the programmes were underway to deliver free medicines at home for patients suffering from TB, hepatitis and heart diseases. The public participation remained crucial in achieving the goal of eliminating TB.

The chief minister said special drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) centres were being established in the province for patients who did not respond to standard treatment.

She said that community health workers, civil society organisations, researchers and private healthcare institutions were playing a supportive role in ensuring timely diagnosis and continuity of treatment. She reiterated that the Punjab government had prioritised the eradication of TB as a part of its broader public health agenda.

Published in Dawn, March 25th, 2026