Great news for cancer patients, historic partnership between government and global pharmaceutical company.
A significant step has been taken towards removing the major obstacle of inflation in the way of treatment for cancer patients in Pakistan.
A long-term agreement has been signed between the Government of Pakistan and the renowned multinational pharmaceutical company Roche to provide free cancer medicines under a public-private partnership.
Addressing the agreement ceremony, the Federal Health Secretary said that under this project, medicines will be provided free of cost to cancer patients from Islamabad, Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan.
Thousands of patients will be able to benefit from modern treatment at PIMS Hospital during the five-year program.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal and the Managing Director of the private pharmaceutical company signed the agreement, after which this welfare project was formally launched.
The Health Minister said on the occasion that millions of people in the country have suffered financial difficulties due to expensive treatment, while the treatment of a disease like cancer is beyond the reach of the common man.
According to him, the average cost of treating a patient in five years is Rs. 98 lakh.
He further informed that under this partnership, 741 patients will be provided free medicines worth about Rs. 10 million each every year on a first-come, first-served basis, which will give new hope to the deserving people.
