Smog has severely impacted public health in Punjab, with nearly 1.93 million people visiting hospitals in the past month due to respiratory and related illnesses, according to the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department. The department reported that in just the last 30 days, hospitals have seen 124,660 cases of asthma, 62,908 cases of ischemic heart disease, 5,953 stroke patients, and 12,694 cases of conjunctivitis.
In the past week alone, healthcare facilities in the province have treated over 450,000 cases, including 452,567 respiratory disease cases, 31,707 asthma cases, and 47,224 conjunctivitis cases. The situation remains critical, with hospitals managing 53,377 respiratory disease cases, 3,509 asthma cases, and 656 conjunctivitis cases in just the past 24 hours.
Lahore, the city hardest hit by smog, has recorded particularly high numbers. In the last month, the city reported 132,558 respiratory disease cases, 5,954 asthma cases, and 14,869 cases of ischemic heart disease.
Over the past week, Lahore saw 34,168 respiratory disease cases, 2,321 asthma cases, and 1,602 conjunctivitis cases. In the last 24 hours, the city logged 4,108 respiratory cases, 393 asthma cases, and 293 cases of conjunctivitis.
Despite the overwhelming number of cases, the Punjab government has assured the public that hospitals are well-equipped to manage the health crisis. Authorities continue to advise residents to take precautions, especially during periods of high smog, and limit outdoor exposure to reduce health risks.
