Cancer patients from Islamabad, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan will receive free medicines worth nearly Rs. 10 million per patient under a new public-private partnership initiative.
The programme aims to ease the financial burden of cancer treatment for patients from underserved and remote regions of the country.
The Ministry of National Health Services signed a formal agreement with multinational pharmaceutical company Roche to implement the initiative.
The signing ceremony was held on Friday, marking a major step toward expanding access to life-saving cancer medicines in Pakistan.
Under the agreement, the Government of Pakistan will contribute Rs. 1 million per patient toward treatment costs.
Roche will provide the remaining Rs. 9 million worth of medicines, ensuring comprehensive support for eligible cancer patients.
Federal Health Secretary Hamed Yaqoob Sheikh said the partnership will benefit patients from Islamabad, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.
He added that the initiative will continue for five years and is expected to support thousands of patients during this period.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal stated that treatment facilities will be available at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences.
Eligible patients from the three regions will receive care at PIMS, ensuring standardized treatment and proper medical supervision.
The minister said illness has pushed nearly 13 million Pakistanis below the poverty line in recent years.
He noted that cancer treatment alone costs around Rs. 9.8 million per patient over five years, making support essential.
The programme will cover patients suffering from lung, liver, and breast cancer under the agreement.
The minister said healthcare reform focuses on both treatment and prevention, including access to clean drinking water.
He credited the prime minister’s leadership for continued improvements in the health sector nationwide.
He added that cancer affects entire families, and the initiative aims to reduce both financial and emotional stress.
