The Punjab government has decided to outsource its Clinics on Wheels project, formally initiating the process to transfer administrative and operational control to the private sector through the Health Department.
Under this decision, private operators will take over the management of mobile health units, while field-based services and rural ambulance operations will also be run through public-private partnerships. The Punjab Health Department has invited applications from interested private entities, with the deadline set for January 26.
As part of the outsourcing plan, 791 Clinics on Wheels units and 590 rural ambulances will be handed over to private operators. Provincial Minister for Health and Population, Khawaja Imran Nazir, said the move aims to enhance service delivery and strengthen the province’s healthcare system.
He emphasized that the government’s priority is to ensure quality medical facilities reach citizens at their doorsteps, especially in remote and underserved rural areas.
It is worth noting that Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated the Clinics on Wheels project in May last year. Currently, around 200 mobile clinics are providing healthcare services to nearly 4 million people across the province.
Additionally, the chief minister has announced plans to establish state-of-the-art cardiology facilities in eight cities of Punjab, including Mianwali, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Jhelum, Sahiwal, Murree, and Layyah, further expanding access to specialized healthcare services.
