Cancer patients in Pakistan have received major relief as the federal government has signed a formal agreement with Swiss pharmaceutical company Roche to provide free cancer medicines.
According to the Ministry of National Health Services, the initiative will begin in phases. In the first phase, 745 cancer patients from Islamabad, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan will receive medicines at no cost.
Speaking at the agreement signing ceremony, Federal Minister for National Health Services Mustafa Kamal described the initiative as a significant relief for cancer patients, many of whom struggle to afford expensive treatments.
The minister explained that under the agreement, 30 percent of the total medicine cost will be covered by the Government of Pakistan, while 70 percent will be borne by Roche. He added that the government is actively promoting public-private partnerships in the health sector to ensure that costly and life-saving treatments reach deserving patients.
Officials said the programme reflects the government’s commitment to improving access to healthcare and reducing the financial burden on patients suffering from serious illnesses like cancer.
The initiative is expected to expand in future phases, allowing more patients across the country to benefit from free cancer treatment support.
