Free cancer medicines to be provided under public-private partnership
ISLAMABAD: A landmark agreement has been signed to provide free cancer medicines to patients across Pakistan through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative. The Federal Secretary of Health announced that cancer patients from Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan will receive free medicines as part of this program.
The medicines will be provided through a collaboration between the Government of Pakistan and the multinational pharmaceutical company Roche. This five-year agreement will directly benefit thousands of cancer patients, particularly those receiving treatment at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital.
A major step for accessible cancer treatment
The agreement was formally signed by Federal Minister for Health, Mustafa Kamal, on behalf of the government. The Managing Director of Roche also signed the accord, marking the beginning of a collaborative effort to combat the high costs of cancer treatment in the country.
In his address, Minister Kamal highlighted that 13 million people in Pakistan have fallen below the poverty line due to medical costs, with cancer being one of the most devastating diseases due to its expensive treatment. He pointed out that the average cost of treating a single cancer patient over five years amounts to Rs 9.8 million.
Free treatment for 741 cancer patients
As part of the initiative, 741 cancer patients will receive free treatment under the program. The treatment will be available on a first-come, first-served basis, and each patient is expected to benefit from nearly Rs 10 million worth of care. The facilities will be provided at PIMS Hospital for eligible patients from Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
This initiative is a significant step toward reducing the financial burden of cancer treatment, especially for those from lower-income backgrounds. It demonstrates the power of public-private collaboration in improving healthcare access and outcomes for vulnerable populations.
A sustainable solution for cancer care
The PPP initiative is being hailed as a pioneering effort to make life-saving cancer treatment more accessible to those who need it the most. By partnering with a global pharmaceutical leader like Roche, the government aims to ensure that high-quality, affordable medicines reach more cancer patients across the country.
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