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The Punjab government has announced the outsourcing of its Clinics on Wheels initiative, aiming to enhance healthcare access in rural areas. Under this decision, the administrative management of 791 mobile clinics and 590 rural ambulances will be handed over to private operators. The Health Department has officially invited applications from private entities, with the deadline set for 26 January 2026.
Provincial Minister for Health and Population Khawaja Imran Nazir said the move is designed to improve service delivery and strengthen the healthcare system, ensuring medical facilities reach people directly in underserved areas. He added that this partnership with the private sector will allow more efficient operation of mobile clinics and rural ambulance services.
The Clinics on Wheels project was inaugurated by Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif in May 2025, with 200 mobile clinics currently serving around 4 million people across the province. The government has also announced plans to establish state-of-the-art cardiology facilities in eight cities, including Mianwali, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Jhelum, Sahiwal, Murree, and Layyah, further enhancing healthcare accessibility.
Health experts believe that outsourcing such initiatives to experienced private operators can reduce administrative burdens on the government while ensuring faster response times, better medical equipment maintenance, and improved patient care.
