Clinic on Wheels Punjab 2026 — Free Mobile Health Vans, Schedule & How to Access
Punjab’s Clinic on Wheels program runs 911 fully-equipped mobile health vans across all 36 districts of Punjab, providing free medical care to over 45,000 patients every day, according to the official launch of Phase 2 by CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif on June 19, 2025, as reported by The Express Tribune and confirmed by pshealthpunjab.gov.pk. The vans carry a doctor and medical staff, are fully air-conditioned, and provide free consultation, free medicines, and referrals. No registration, no fee, and no CNIC is required for basic treatment.
Last Updated: May 2026
What Is the Clinic on Wheels Program?
Clinic on Wheels is a Punjab government mobile healthcare program that sends medical vans directly to populated areas, villages, urban slums, and remote locations where residents face difficulty reaching a fixed clinic or hospital. The program is run by the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department (P&SHD).
Phase 1 launched with approximately 250 vehicles. Phase 2, launched in June 2025, expanded the fleet to 911 mobile vans — each functioning as a complete clinic on the road. The program aims to reach approximately 4 million people across Punjab, according to the official Phase 2 launch announcement at pshealthpunjab.gov.pk.
A real-time tracking system monitors van performance and location. This means the government can identify which vans are delayed, not operating, or off-route — creating accountability that earlier mobile health programs did not have.
Who Can Use the Clinic on Wheels?
Any Punjab resident can receive free treatment from a Clinic on Wheels van. There is no income requirement. No registration. No CNIC is required for basic treatment — though bringing your CNIC is recommended for maternity care and referrals.
Children can be treated without any documentation. Elderly patients and pregnant women are prioritised at most van stops.
What Does Each Mobile Van Provide?
Every Clinic on Wheels van is equipped as a working clinic, according to the Punjab government’s official program details at pshealthpunjab.gov.pk:
- Doctor consultation for any illness or complaint
- Basic medicines — free for all patients
- Maternal health screening — antenatal and postnatal checkups
- Child immunisation
- Blood pressure and blood sugar checks
- Free food packets for malnourished children — this is active specifically in South Punjab districts including DG Khan, Rajanpur, Muzaffargarh, and Layyah
- Referrals to the nearest DHQ or THQ hospital for serious cases requiring admission
Each van has a doctor and supporting medical staff on board. The Phase 2 vans are fully air-conditioned — relevant for South Punjab where summer temperatures make standard mobile units difficult to use effectively.
Which Areas Does the Clinic on Wheels Cover?
The program covers all 36 districts of Punjab. The coverage focus has two components:
Rural and remote areas: villages, tribal areas, and communities more than 5 kilometres from the nearest BHU or hospital. This was the original focus of Phase 1.
Urban slums: densely populated urban areas within major Punjab cities where residents face barriers to healthcare access even though hospitals may be geographically nearby. Phase 2 expanded the program into urban slum areas specifically, according to the Punjab Urban Slum Survey data cited by P&SHD at punjab.gov.pk.
The DG Khan tribal belt, Cholistan desert areas, and flood-affected zones in South Punjab receive priority van deployments.
How to Find the Clinic on Wheels Schedule for Your Area
Method 1 — Check the P&SHD Official Portal
- Go to pshealthpunjab.gov.pk on your phone.
- Look for the Clinic on Wheels section or mobile health unit schedule.
- Select your district to see the current week’s van schedule and routes.
- Note the time and location the van will stop in your tehsil or area.
Schedules are updated weekly. Check the portal at the start of each week for the most current information.
Method 2 — Contact Your District Health Authority Office
Every district has a District Health Authority (DHA) office. Call or visit and ask for the Clinic on Wheels schedule for your tehsil. The DHA coordinator manages the van routes for your district and can give you the current week’s stops.
Ask specifically for the day, time, and location the van visits your area. Write it down — van stops are usually 2 to 3 hours at each location.
Method 3 — Ask at Your Nearest BHU
The BHU serving your area usually has information on when the Clinic on Wheels van is scheduled nearby. The BHU staff coordinate with the DHA on mobile van deployment. They can point you to the nearest van stop for your area.
How to Use the Clinic on Wheels Van When It Arrives
- Go to the van stop at the scheduled time — arrive a few minutes early as vans move on schedule.
- Join the queue at the van entrance. Staff will manage the order.
- Tell the medical staff or doctor your symptoms or health concern.
- The doctor will examine you and provide treatment or prescribe medicines.
- Collect your free medicines from the van’s medicine stock.
- If your condition needs hospital care, ask for a referral letter. Bring your CNIC for the referral — it will link to your Sehat Card eligibility at the hospital.
The van stops are typically 2 to 3 hours at each location. If the queue is long and you are unable to be seen before the van moves, ask the staff for the next scheduled stop in your area or the next visit to your location.
What to Do When Something Goes Wrong
The Van Did Not Come at the Scheduled Time
Van delays happen due to road conditions, fuel issues, or emergency redeployment. Before assuming the van is cancelled:
- Check the updated schedule at pshealthpunjab.gov.pk — the schedule may have shifted.
- Call your DHA office to confirm whether the van was rescheduled or redirected.
- If the van is genuinely absent without notice, report it to your DHA office with the scheduled date, location, and tehsil name.
The tracking system used in Phase 2 means P&SHD can see which van is absent — your complaint helps create a record that flags the gap.
The Van Ran Out of Medicines Before You Were Seen
If the van’s medicine stock runs out during your visit:
- Ask the doctor to write a prescription or give you the generic name of the medicine you need.
- Purchase it at the nearest pharmacy using the generic name — this is significantly cheaper than branded alternatives.
- Report the stock-out to your DHA office so it can be flagged for the next resupply.
Your Area Has Never Had a Van Visit
If your village or neighbourhood has not been included in the Clinic on Wheels route, contact your DHA office and formally request inclusion. Provide the location, approximate population, and distance from the nearest BHU. The DHA forwards such requests to P&SHD for route planning. You can also submit the request through pshealthpunjab.gov.pk.
If no fixed clinic is reachable in your area in the meantime, the Maryam Nawaz Health Clinic at the nearest upgraded BHU is the best alternative for primary care.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Clinic on Wheels vans are currently running in Punjab?
Phase 2 of the program operates 911 mobile vans across all 36 districts of Punjab, according to the official Phase 2 launch announcement on June 19, 2025, at pshealthpunjab.gov.pk. Phase 1 ran with approximately 250 vehicles. The expanded fleet serves over 45,000 patients every day.
Is the treatment on the Clinic on Wheels van actually free?
Yes. All treatment, consultation, and medicines provided on the van are free. No payment is asked or accepted. If anyone at a van stop asks for money, do not pay — report the incident to your DHA office with the van location, date, and time.
Can I get a referral to a hospital from the Clinic on Wheels van?
Yes. If the doctor determines you need hospital-level care, they issue a referral letter. Bring your CNIC to the hospital along with the referral. Your hospital treatment may be covered under the Sehat Card if your family is enrolled — the Sehat Card hospital list shows which hospitals are currently empanelled.
Does the Clinic on Wheels serve cities or only villages?
Both. Phase 2 expanded coverage into urban slums within major Punjab cities — areas that are geographically close to hospitals but where residents face barriers to access. Rural and remote areas remain the primary focus, but urban slum coverage is now a confirmed part of the program.
How often does the van come to the same location?
Van frequency varies by district and population density. High-need areas may receive a van multiple times per week. Some remote villages are visited once every one to two weeks. Ask your DHA office for the specific frequency for your tehsil. If visits are infrequent and your population has high health needs, you can formally request increased frequency through your DHA.
