The Pakistan government has signed an agreement with Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche to provide free cancer medicines at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) Hospital, Federal Health Minister Mustafa Kamal announced.
Under the programme, patients from Islamabad, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan will benefit. In the first phase, 745 patients will receive free cancer medicines. The cost will be shared, with 70% covered by Roche and 30% by the Pakistan government.
Mustafa Kamal said providing high-quality healthcare to the public remains a top priority. He added that the government is focused on strengthening the healthcare system while ensuring access to effective treatments for serious diseases.
The initiative aims to make life-saving medications more accessible to patients who cannot afford them. Health authorities highlighted that timely access to cancer medicines can improve survival rates and enhance quality of life for patients.
Last year, Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz inaugurated Pakistan’s first advanced Coablation Cancer Treatment Centre in Lahore. The facility offers a 60-minute, pain-free cancer treatment without chemotherapy or radiotherapy.
Maryam Nawaz said Punjab has become the first province in Pakistan to introduce this modern treatment method, which eliminates cancer at its root in just one hour. The technology, imported from China, is valued at Rs 250 million per machine, with each probe costing $5,500.
The government allocated Rs 5 billion to fund the machines and ensure patients across Punjab can access the treatment. This breakthrough is considered a major advancement in healthcare, providing alternatives to conventional therapies and reducing patient suffering.
Authorities believe that combining modern treatment facilities with access to cancer medicines can significantly improve healthcare outcomes in Pakistan. The collaboration with Roche marks a milestone in government efforts to make critical treatments affordable and widely available.
With this programme, Pakistan aims to strengthen its healthcare system and ensure that cancer patients receive timely, effective, and high-quality care.
In other news read more about: Punjab Government Unveils Plans for First Public Cancer Hospital in the Province
