Cancer patients denied free drugs

Thousands of patients have benefited from the initiative over the years. However, delays in centralised procurement and disruptions in the supply of medicines have put the programme in jeopardy.

Under the initiative, the Punjab government had signed a memorandum of understanding with Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis Pharma Pakistan to ensure the provision of specialised medicines, including Tasigna (Nilotinib), for CML patients.

Medicines were distributed through designated centres at Mayo Hospital and Jinnah Hospital in Lahore, Nishtar Hospital in Multan, Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi, Allied Hospital in Faisalabad and a government hospital in Bahawalpur. Last year, the Punjab government decided to centralise the procurement of medicines and initiated purchases from Oncongen following a tender process.

However, supplies under the programme have remained disrupted for the past five months since the beginning of the current fiscal year. The supply of the medicine to the designated hospitals was discontinued in June and has yet to be restored.

With supplies from Mayo Hospital Lahore also halted, the other participating hospitals, including Holy Family Hospital, have been unable to provide the medicine to their patients. As a result, patients have been advised to approach Pakistan Baitul Mal to obtain financial assistance for purchasing the medicine.