Under the leadership of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, PPP government in Sindh has made the health sector a top priority, driving multiple reforms, major infrastructure deployments and service-expansions aimed at delivering free or highly subsidised, world-class healthcare for the people of Sindh – and for many patients from other provinces of Pakistan.
Major achievements and institutional milestones. Here are the headline achievements across the province that show the scale and ambition of the programme;
Expansion of tertiary-care hospitals & specialist units
The National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) has been strengthened into a province-wide cardiac-network, with multiple hospitals and chest-pain units across many districts.
For instance, NICVD treated 1.4 million patients and performed over 5,000 surgeries in one recent year.
At the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) in Karachi, new facilities were inaugurated: a 120-bed Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Sciences; a 110-bed Department of Neurology and Stroke Unit; and the cutting-edge CyberKnife S7-FIM machine for cancer treatment.
These institutions serve not only Karachi or Sindh, but attract patients from across Pakistan (and some from abroad). For example, JPMC’s cancer department is reported to serve patients from 167 cities and 15 countries.
At the Gambat Liver Transplant Center (Khairpur district, Sindh) public-sector transplant programmes for liver and kidney have been advanced.
Health for All – free care & public-private partnership (PPP) model
A cornerstone of the PPP government’s policy has been providing free quality public healthcare regardless of financial ability.
Sindh government heavily uses a public-private partnership (PPP) model in the health sector – collaborating with networks such as Indus Hospital & Health Network to extend services.
The model has enabled the government to reach remote or underserved areas of Sindh, expanding access even in rural districts.
Improved health-outcomes: Child and infant mortality
One of the very significant wins: the infant mortality rate in Sindh has been reduced to 2.9%, compared to the national average of around 5.4%.
At paediatric emergency care centres under the programme (for example via ChildLife Foundation), mortality rates of 1.2% have been achieved – even better than some top private hospitals.
Service expansion into interior Sindh & across districts
More than 500 health institutions (small and large) have reportedly been established across Sindh under this scheme.
The NICVD network covers districts beyond Karachi (for example Larkana, Khairpur, Sukkur, Nawabshah) so that people in Sindh don’t always need to travel to Karachi.
Expansion of emergency services, ambulance & rescue services, tele-medicine, stroke units, trauma centres and satellite centres have been reported.
Advanced technology and cutting-edge treatments
Introduction of high-end technology in public sector hospitals: e.g., the CyberKnife system at JPMC for cancer treatment.
Launch of stroke programmes, neurology units, interventional radiology, robotic cath labs, etc.
Ventilators, mobile X-ray units, ICU beds, COVID-19 testing kits and other equipment were supplied at scale.
Regional outreach: Patients from other provinces & international patients
The healthcare institutions in Sindh have not only served Sindh’s population but patients from other provinces (and beyond). For example, JPMC’s cancer department caters to people from 15 foreign countries.
The NICVD network treats patients from across the country.
Equity and access: By building and equipping tertiary-care hospitals across the province, and using PPP models, Sindh government is attempting to overcome the classic urban/rural divide in healthcare availability.
Free-of-cost treatment: For many families, medical emergencies can lead to catastrophic expenditures. The model pursued by PPP Sindh emphasises free or subsidised access.
Setting benchmarks: With Sindh achieving infant mortality of 2.9% and public paediatric mortality of 1.2% (better than private hospitals), the province positions itself as a leader in Pakistan.
Regional role: Sindh is not only looking inward but becoming a destination for patients across Pakistan and beyond, implying economic as well as health-security benefits.
Innovation: Using advanced technology in the public sector (e.g., CyberKnife) sends a message that high-end care need not be restricted to expensive private hospitals.
Sustainable systems: By deploying networks, telemedicine, rescue services and PPP collaborations, the government is building infrastructure rather than one-off projects.
Highlights in Brief
500 health institutions set up across Sindh by PPP government
Infant mortality reduced to 2.9% in Sindh supported institutions
JPMC’s new units: 120-bed Psychiatry, 110-bed Neurology/Stroke Unit, CyberKnife for cancer treatment
NICVD network across many districts, providing free cardiac care
PPP model of health service delivery declared a major success by PPP
Under Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s leadership, the PPP-led Sindh government has laid a strong foundation in the health sector. The way ahead could include further expansion of specialist hospitals and units in under-served districts of Sindh (e.g., Thar, northern Sindh)
Strengthening primary and preventive healthcare so that fewer people require tertiary care (for example, community health programmes, screening programmes)
Enhanced telemedicine, mobile clinics and outreach to overcome geographic barriers
Integration of health insurance or benefit packages to formalise free/affordable access across the board
Collaboration with other provinces: given Sindh’s success, sharing the model, joint ventures, and training centres with neighbouring provinces may help raise national standards
Continual monitoring, professionalisation of staff, quality accreditation and public-reporting to maintain high standards of care and patient outcomes
Conclusion
Sindh government under the PPP and Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has delivered what can be described as a paradigm shift in how healthcare is provided in the province: from limited basic services to a broad network of tertiary institutions, free treatments, advanced technology, outreach to remote districts, and catering to patients across Pakistan. In doing so, Sindh is not only improving health for its own citizens but positioning itself as a national leader in healthcare innovation and access.
The achievements are many – from infant mortality reduction to world-class cancer treatment machines in the public sector; from building hundreds of health institutions to serving non-Sindh patients in Karachi; from PPP partnerships to cutting-edge services. This has wide relevance across Pakistan, indicating that provincial leadership, political will and investment can truly transform health systems.