ISLAMABAD (Kashmir English): An inauguration ceremony was held today in a move to sign an agreement regarding the provision of free medicines to cancer patients under a public-private partnership.
Giving a briefing at the ceremony, the Federal Health Secretary said that free medicines will be provided to cancer patients in Islamabad, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
The medicines will be provided in cooperation with the Government of Pakistan and the multinational pharmaceutical company Roche. Thousands of cancer patients will benefit from this five-year agreement at PIMS Hospital.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal has signed an agreement to provide free medicines to cancer patients under a public-private partnership, while the MD of a private pharmaceutical company also signed the agreement.
The Health Minister said that 13 million people in Pakistan have fallen below the poverty line due to various diseases. Cancer is a deadly disease whose treatment is very expensive.
He said that with this agreement, every 741 patients will get free treatment of about Rs 10 million per patient on a first-come, first-served basis.
The treatment facility will be available at PIMS Hospital to patients from Islamabad, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
