Maria Imran 
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has inaugurated the Pakistan-China Friendship Hospital in Islamabad, a major step in Pakistan’s efforts to improve access to healthcare. The facility, donated by the government and people of China, should provide free medical treatment, and the government should pay for the patients’ treatment costs.
Pakistan-China Friendship Hospital Inaugurated In Islamabad
The inauguration also marks the long-standing partnership between Pakistan and China, with the hospital signifying cooperation in public welfare and healthcare development. Shehbaz Sharif acknowledged the long closure of the facility since 2020 and apologised to the Chinese ambassador for the delay, saying he was confident the hospital would serve communities across Pakistan.
The government plans to outsource the running of the hospital through a public-private partnership to help ensure efficient operations and quality of medical services. The aim is to continue the delivery of sustainable healthcare even after the end of the current government’s tenure, and patients from Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Azad Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are expected to benefit.
Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal also pointed to wider improvements in Pakistan’s public healthcare system, saying that over the past 15 to 18 months more than 3,000 hospital beds had been added. With the revival of the Prime Minister’s Sehat Card, 15 private hospitals have been added to the panel and more than 2,600 beds have been added to the existing system.
Pakistan Increases Hospital Capacity And Specialist Care
The minister also confirmed that a 176-bed trauma centre at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) was ready and a 200-bed cancer hospital has been established and is expected to become operational next year. The facilities are intended to enhance emergency response and specialist treatment capacity in the federal capital.
The long-term impact of the hospital will depend on good management, adequate staffing and reliable access to treatment. The initiative presents a good opportunity to improve public health care delivery and enhance Pakistan-China cooperation through practical assistance to communities.
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