KARACHI: Effective control on drug prices demanded: SIUT’s oncology unit opens
By Mukhtar Alam
KARACHI, Sept 22: The director of Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Dr Adibul Hasan Rizvi, has stressed the need to make efforts for bringing down the exorbitant prices of drugs.
He said that the cost of drugs in the country was beyond the reach of common man, which was a major hindrance to proper management of diseases and as such it was high time to end the human greed that had made the life saving drugs dearer.
The prices of certain drugs available in Pakistan were many times higher than that of the neighboring countries, he pointed out declaring that the SIUT had planned to launch a movement to bring down the exorbitant prices of drugs.
In this regard, he said, a seminar would be arranged in November.Dr Rizvi was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Hanifa Suleman Dawood Urology and Transplant Oncology Centre, which has been raised through the donations by Suleman Dawood family.
Mrs Hanifa Suleman Dawood along with her family members was also present at the ceremony. The family had also helped in establishing a dialysis centre at the SIUT in 2000, he said.
Recalling the services of the family and its donations towards fulfillment of two major projects at the SIUT, Dr Rizvi said that the family had contributed largely to the oncology project both in terms of equipments and endowment.
Without disclosing the amount contributed for the project, Prof Adib said, “We prepared our plan and they financed it and we never had any problem later”. However, while presenting his vote of thanks at the end of the ceremony, Dr Anwar Naqvi said that the donation by the Suleman family was the single largest donation by a family towards medical care in Pakistan.
The 150-bed new complex, which has been linked to Deewan Farooq Complex across the street through overhead bridges, had more than 100,000 square feet covered area. He said that the new centre had all the latest technologies for the treatment of cancer patients.
Dr Adib Rizvi also mentioned about the support of local government and government agencies in the acquisition of land for the project and said that the oncology centre was badly needed for treatment of thousands of cancer patients.
He pointed out that the SIUT was working on a plan for the establishment of an institute of transplant sciences for which a 100 acre land was available, while financial supports were needed.
Replying to the questions of newsmen after the ceremony, Dr Adib Rizvi agreed that mere completion of a building was not all, but there was need to meet out the recurring expenditures of the new oncology centre and that was why he usually urged the philanthropists and other well-offs individuals and organizations to come up with donations and endowments.
“It is the generosity of the donors that have been supporting the SIUT to keep dreaming and standing by its motto that it will not let anyone die because he or she cannot afford to live,” he added.
He said that another factor that played the basic role in the survival of patients was drugs, which had been made costlier in the country without any rationale by the pharmaceutical companies.
“We have now planned to hold a series of seminars and campaign aiming at bringing the end-users, media, industries and government together to address the crucial issue of survival of the ailing human fellows,” he added.
Earlier, as a mark of respect and appreciation the SIUT faculty members presented bouquets to the donor family members who were led by Mrs Suleman Dawood. Other family members present at the ceremony were Bashir Dawood, who extended the financial support, Kulsoom Dawood, Farah Dawood and Razzaq Dawood, who were presented the SIUT mementoes by some children treated at the SIUT.
Speaking on behalf of the family, Razzaq Dawood said that the oncology centre was a glowing example of public-private partnership. Expressing trust in the SIUT and its leadership, Mr Dawood said: “Giving is important but it is equally important to know the quality of recipients”. He said that there was need to give hope of survival to many who were living below the poverty line.
KARACHI, Sept 22: The director of Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Dr Adibul Hasan Rizvi, has stressed the need to make efforts for bringing down the exorbitant prices of drugs.
