ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday officially inaugurated the newly revamped 182-bed Pakistan-China Friendship Hospital in Chak Shahzad, Islamabad, declaring that the modern medical complex will deliver comprehensive healthcare and intensive care services entirely free of cost to patients from across the country.
Revival of Vital Health Infrastructure
The facility was originally constructed through a $4 million grant from the Chinese government during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 as an isolation hospital and infectious treatment centre. However, following the pandemic's subsiding, the hospital remained largely inactive and underutilized for years due to bureaucratic delays. Addressing the ceremony alongside Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong and senior federal cabinet members, the Prime Minister expressed deep regret over the prolonged institutional neglect and extended a formal apology for the delay in activating the gift from Beijing.
Prime Minister Sharif underscored that the federal government will fully finance 100 percent of the operational costs and patient medical expenses, ensuring that no patient visiting the facility is turned away or charged for diagnostics, inpatient admissions, surgical procedures, or critical intensive care services.
Public-Private Management Model with Indus Hospital
To guarantee professional medical administration, modern clinical standards, and transparent operational oversight, the management of the hospital has been entrusted to the reputable Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) under a structured public-private partnership framework. Under this arrangement, IHHN will administer clinical protocols, deploy qualified medical and nursing personnel, and maintain high diagnostic accuracy, while the federal government bears the complete financial burden of treatment.
The Prime Minister directed the management to institute third-party audit mechanisms to ensure clinical excellence and efficiency, emphasizing that public healthcare delivery must match private sector quality without burdening vulnerable socioeconomic segments.
Nationwide Reach and Specialized Clinical Wings
Equipped with specialized intensive care units (ICUs), neonatal care wings, high-dependency units, and modern diagnostic laboratories, the Pakistan-China Friendship Hospital is strategically positioned to serve residents of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and surrounding northern territories, including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Diplomatic observers noted that the inauguration underscores the enduring humanitarian dimension of the China-Pakistan strategic partnership, adding a key community healthcare asset to bilateral cooperation frameworks. For continuing updates on federal governance, social sector development, and national affairs, follow our latest Pakistan news reports on Pak Pulse 247.