The CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026 gives free heart surgery to children whose families cannot pay for it. Launched by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and known as “Maryam Ki Masihaai”, it covers diagnosis, surgery, hospital stay and care after the operation at no cost to the family. More than 16,857 children had free heart surgery under the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026 by 4 November 2026. This guide explains who can get help, which hospitals take part, and what parents need to do first.
Quick Overview: CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Programme name | CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026 (“Maryam Ki Masihaai”) |
| Launched by | Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif |
| Run by | Punjab Health Initiative Management Company (PHIMC) through empanelled hospitals |
| What children get | Free diagnosis, heart surgery, hospital admission and post-operative care |
| Cost to families | Free |
| Card | Child Surgery Card for treatment at government and private empanelled hospitals |
| Children treated | More than 16,857 by 4 November 2026 |
| Main hospitals | PIC Lahore, Children’s Hospital Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi |
| Online portal | Not officially announced |
| Helpline | Not officially announced |
| How to start | Visit a participating hospital with medical reports |
What Changed in the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026
The numbers keep rising. At the 120th board meeting of the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company on 14 October 2026, chaired by Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, more than 16,391 free heart surgeries were reported, rising past 16,857 by 4 November 2026.
The programme has also grown beyond Punjab. Around 1,400 treated by October 2026 came from outside the province: 682 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 422 from Azad Kashmir, 147 from Islamabad, 66 from Gilgit-Baltistan, 48 from Balochistan and 35 from Sindh.
Who Can Get Help Under the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026
The CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026 is for children with a heart condition that needs an operation. The treating hospital’s cardiac team decides after examining the child and looking at the test reports, and that medical decision is the real test of eligibility.
No official age limit, income limit or survey score has been published. The government has not announced a PMT score, an NSER survey condition or a BISP link, and this article will not invent one. Treat any claimed age limit or income cut-off on social media as unconfirmed until a hospital or PHIMC confirms it.
The programme is for children, not adults. Families from any province can seek treatment, and the child does not need to be a BISP beneficiary, because this is a Punjab health programme run through PHIMC and the hospitals, not the 8171 system.
What the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026 Covers
Everything in the treatment chain is free for the family. There is no fee at any stage, and no one should ask the family to pay.
| What is covered | Cost to the family |
|---|---|
| Diagnosis and tests before surgery | Free |
| Heart surgery itself | Free |
| Hospital admission and stay | Free |
| Post-operative care and follow-up | Free |
| Private hospital treatment, if the government hospital has no capacity | Free |
| Child Surgery Card | Free |
The Child Surgery Card is the key to the programme. Eligible families receive this card, and it gives the child access to treatment at government and private empanelled hospitals. Keep it safe, because the hospital will ask for it at follow-up visits. Families still arrange their own travel and food, as no allowance for these has been officially announced.
Heart Conditions Treated
The programme treats congenital heart defects, the conditions children are born with. The hospital’s cardiac team confirms the diagnosis and whether surgery is the right step. The conditions reported include:
| Condition | What it means in plain words |
|---|---|
| Ventricular septal defect (VSD) | A hole in the wall between the two lower chambers of the heart |
| Atrial septal defect (ASD) | A hole in the wall between the two upper chambers of the heart |
| Patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) | A blood vessel that should close after birth stays open |
| Cyanotic heart conditions | Heart defects that cut oxygen in the blood and can turn lips or skin blue |
Some children need open-heart surgery, others a smaller procedure, decided by the cardiac team after an echo and an ECG. The CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026 pays for the diagnosis as well as the operation.
Hospitals in the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026
Treatment is given through PHIMC empanelled hospitals. The two main hospitals are the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) Lahore and the Children’s Hospital Lahore, and families usually start at one of these two.
| Phase | Hospitals and cities |
|---|---|
| Phase 1 | PIC Lahore, Children’s Hospital Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi |
| Phase 2 (expansion) | Wazirabad, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur and Sargodha |
Phase 2 matters for families in southern and central Punjab, who should not have to travel to Lahore once the new hospitals run. No official start date for each Phase 2 hospital has been announced, so confirm with the hospital or PHIMC before travelling. Private hospitals are also part of the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026, and if a government hospital has no capacity, the hospital refers the child to a private empanelled hospital, still free.
Important Dates for the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Programme running in 2026 | Throughout 2026 |
| PHIMC 120th board meeting: more than 16,391 surgeries reported | 14 October 2026 |
| Surgeries pass 16,857 | 4 November 2026 |
| Phase 2 expansion to Wazirabad, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur, Sargodha | Announced 2026, start dates not officially announced |
| Application deadline | Not officially announced, there is no online application |
| Online portal launch | Not officially announced |
| Helpline number | Not officially announced |
There is no deadline, because there is no form to submit and no online registration. Families start by visiting a participating hospital.
How to Start the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026: Steps for Parents
There is no online form, so do not search for a registration link.
- Take the child to a participating hospital. The Punjab Institute of Cardiology Lahore or the Children’s Hospital Lahore are the main starting points. Families in Multan, Faisalabad or Rawalpindi can start in their city.
- Carry the child’s medical reports. Take the echo report, ECG and earlier test results, plus the B-Form and the parent’s CNIC.
- Let the cardiac team examine the child. The doctors will check the child, look at the reports and order any tests still needed, free of charge.
- Get the medical decision. The cardiac team will say whether surgery is needed, which operation fits, and roughly when.
- Get the Child Surgery Card. If surgery is needed, the hospital arranges the card. Ask the staff where it works.
- If there is no capacity, ask for a referral. The hospital can refer the child to a private empanelled hospital under the same programme, still free.
- Follow the post-operative plan. Follow the hospital’s instructions on medicines, rest and follow-up visits, and keep the card and discharge papers safe.
If any step is unclear, confirm it with the treating hospital or PHIMC.
Documents Required for the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026
No official document list has been published. Hospitals normally ask for these papers when a child is admitted for surgery:
- Child’s B-Form (issued by NADRA)
- Parent’s original CNIC
- Child’s medical reports: echo, ECG and earlier heart test results
- Previous hospital records, if any
- Referral letter, if a doctor has referred the child
Never hand original documents to a stranger. Show them at the hospital counter and keep them with you. No official will ask for CNIC or B-Form copies on WhatsApp or over the phone for the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026.
How Treatment Works in the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026
Here is the path a family follows, from the first hospital visit to recovery at home. The family reaches a participating hospital with the child’s reports, B-Form and the parent’s CNIC. The cardiac team examines the child and orders an echo, ECG or other tests if needed, all free. The doctors confirm the diagnosis and decide whether surgery is needed and which operation fits. The hospital arranges the Child Surgery Card and gives an operation date, or refers the child to a private empanelled hospital if it has no capacity. After surgery, the child stays for monitoring and post-operative care, then goes home with written instructions and a follow-up date. The whole chain is free. If anyone asks the family to pay, ask for the reason in writing and speak to the hospital administration.
Common Problems and Fixes in the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026
| Problem | Real cause | Exact fix |
|---|---|---|
| Hospital says no bed is available | The government hospital is full | Ask for a referral to a private empanelled hospital |
| Someone asks for money to register the child | Fraud, there is no registration fee | Do not pay. Report the person to the hospital administration |
| No online portal or helpline can be found | None has been officially announced | Go to a participating hospital in person with the child’s reports |
| Family lives outside Punjab | The programme treats children from every province | Take the child to a participating hospital with reports and documents |
| Family confuses this with the adult heart programme | Adults have a separate programme | This programme is for children only; adults have a separate programme |
| Phase 2 hospital in your city is not taking patients yet | Phase 2 start dates are not officially announced | Confirm with the hospital or PHIMC first |
Fraud Warning: The Treatment Is Free
The CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026 is completely free for families. No one may charge you for the surgery, the card, or the hospital stay. There is no fee at any stage.
No agent can register your child, because there is no online registration. Anyone who takes money to register a child is committing fraud. There is no official portal link or helpline yet, so do not trust links or phone numbers shared on Facebook, WhatsApp or TikTok.
Never share CNIC or B-Form copies with strangers, and never pay anyone who offers a “fast-track” surgery date. Dates come from the hospital’s cardiac team only. If a person demands money in the name of the programme, refuse, keep any messages or receipts as proof, and report them to the hospital administration and the local police.
Related Support for the Same Families
Families using the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026 often need other help too. These are separate programmes, and none of them is needed to get the heart surgery. CM Punjab Clinic on Wheels brings doctors to people’s doorsteps in mobile units. The Punjab Sehat Card covers health care costs for families in Punjab. The Sehat Sahulat Programme is the wider health insurance programme for families across Pakistan. KP Sehat Card Plus covers families in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Ehsaas Tahafuz gives financial help for hospital treatment to poor families. The CM Punjab Honhaar Scholarship supports bright students in higher education.
Tips for Parents
- Keep all test reports in one file. The echo, ECG and earlier reports are the first thing the cardiac team asks for, so keep them in one folder.
- Do not delay the first hospital visit. If a doctor has already said your child has a heart problem, go to a participating hospital and let the cardiac team decide.
- Ask the hospital to explain the Child Surgery Card, including where it works and what to do if you lose it.
- Plan for the hospital stay. One parent should be ready to stay with the child, with the B-Form, CNIC and a small bag of essentials.
- Follow the post-operative instructions exactly. Give medicines on time, keep the wound clean as the doctors explain, and attend the follow-up visit. If one hospital cannot take your child, ask about a referral to a private empanelled hospital under the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026, where the treatment stays free.
FAQs: CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026
1. What is the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026?
The CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026 is a Punjab government programme that gives free heart surgery to children. Launched by Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and called “Maryam Ki Masihaai”, it is run through the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company and covers diagnosis, surgery, hospital stay and post-operative care.
2. Is the heart surgery really free under the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026?
Yes, it is completely free. Diagnosis, the operation, hospital admission and post-operative care cost the family nothing. If the government hospital has no capacity, the child can be treated at a private empanelled hospital under the same programme, still free. No one may charge a fee at any stage.
3. How many children have had free heart surgery under the programme?
More than 16,391 children had free heart surgery by 14 October 2026, reported at the 120th board meeting of the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company. By 4 November 2026 the number had passed 16,857. Children from every province have benefited, including about 1,400 from outside Punjab.
4. Which hospitals are part of the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026?
Phase 1 covers the Punjab Institute of Cardiology Lahore, the Children’s Hospital Lahore, and hospitals in Multan, Faisalabad and Rawalpindi. Phase 2 adds Wazirabad, Dera Ghazi Khan, Bahawalpur and Sargodha. Private empanelled hospitals also treat children when a government hospital has no capacity.
5. What is the Child Surgery Card?
The Child Surgery Card is given to eligible families under the programme. It gives the child access to free treatment at government and private empanelled hospitals. Families should keep the card safe and bring it to every hospital visit, including follow-up appointments after the surgery.
6. Which heart conditions does the programme treat?
The programme treats congenital heart defects that children are born with, including ventricular septal defect (VSD), atrial septal defect (ASD), patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) and cyanotic heart conditions. The hospital’s cardiac team confirms the diagnosis and decides whether surgery is needed after examining the child.
7. Can children from outside Punjab get treatment under the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026?
Yes. Children from every province have been treated under the programme. About 1,400 children from outside Punjab had surgery by October 2026, including 682 from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 422 from Azad Kashmir, 147 from Islamabad, 66 from Gilgit-Baltistan, 48 from Balochistan and 35 from Sindh.
8. How do I apply for the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026?
There is no online application. No portal link or helpline number has been officially announced. Take the child to a participating hospital such as the Punjab Institute of Cardiology Lahore or the Children’s Hospital Lahore, with medical reports, the child’s B-Form and the parent’s CNIC, and confirm the steps with the hospital or PHIMC.
9. Is this the same as the adult heart surgery programme?
No, it is a separate programme for children. The Chief Minister’s Adult Cardiac Surgery Programme gives free heart treatment to adults, with 9,213 people enrolled and 2,409 surgeries reported. A child with a heart condition belongs under the children’s programme, and an adult patient should ask about the adult programme.
Conclusion
The CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026 is a lifeline for families who could never afford a child’s heart operation. More than 16,857 children have already had free surgery, and the programme now reaches children from every province. If your child has a heart condition, take the reports to a participating hospital and let the cardiac team decide the next step.
Sources
- The News — reporting on the CM Punjab Children Heart Surgery Program 2026 (“Maryam Ki Masihaai”), PHIMC 120th board meeting figures (14 October 2026)
- Bloom Pakistan — reporting on free heart surgeries for children under the Punjab programme (November 2026)
- Lahore Times — reporting on the children’s heart surgery programme and Phase 2 expansion
- Pakistan Observer — reporting on the Punjab specialised health programmes and the Rs. 36.5 billion free treatment figure
- Punjab Health Initiative Management Company (PHIMC) — 120th board meeting reporting, chaired by Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique
Disclaimer
This guide is based on official announcements and reputable news reports current to November 2026. Programme details, hospital lists and surgery figures may change. No online application portal, helpline number or enrolment deadline has been officially announced for this programme; verify the latest information with the treating hospital or the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company (PHIMC) before acting on it.
