Saira Imran 
Free Cancer Medicines Agreement Signed in Pakistan
The government has signed a Free Cancer Medicines Agreement with a private pharmaceutical company to provide life-saving drugs to cancer patients.
The Ministry of National Health Services and the pharmaceutical company Roche finalized the agreement in Islamabad. The deal aims to support patients who cannot afford expensive cancer treatment.
Under this public-private partnership, around 741 patients will receive free medicines in the first phase. Each patient will get medicines worth one crore rupees. The Government of Pakistan will pay ten lakh rupees per patient, while Roche will provide ninety lakh rupees.
Officials held a formal ceremony to mark the agreement. Federal Health Secretary Hamid Yaqoob Sheikh said the program will support cancer patients from Islamabad, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan. Both the government and the multinational company will jointly supply the medicines.
The agreement will remain active for five years. During this period, thousands of cancer patients will benefit from the program.
Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal said the facility will be available to patients receiving treatment at PIMS Hospital. He added that nearly 13 million people in Pakistan have fallen below the poverty line due to serious illnesses.
Health officials stated that a single cancer patient spends about 9.8 million rupees on treatment over five years. Under the first-come, first-served policy, 741 patients will receive free treatment worth one crore rupees each in the first phase.
The program will initially cover lung, liver, and breast cancer patients. Authorities said they plan to expand the program in the future.
The government believes this Free Cancer Medicines Agreement will reduce the financial burden on families and improve access to quality cancer treatment across the country.
