KARACHI: Sindh Health Minister Dr Sikander Mandhro on Wednesday announced that the provincial government would provide funds for free bone marrow transplantation (BMT) to all needy patients at the National Institute of Blood Diseases (NIBD).

He was speaking to reporters after inauguration of a new BMT ward at the NIBD in which he said the provincial government was committed to providing modern-day hea­lth delivery to the people of Sindh and providing funds for free BMT was long overdue.

He handed over a cheque of Rs300 million to the director medical services of the NIBD as an initial grant for 150 BMT patients.

Replying to a question, Dr Mandhro said that the grant would be part of the provincial health ministry’s annual budget and it would be further enhanced when it was fully utilised.

“More money will be given [to NIBD] when the load of patients is increased.”

He said a new campus would be established by the Sindh government for the NIBD so that maximum number of patients could be treated. Director of NIBD Dr Tahir Shamsi thanked the provincial government for the support. He said: “Now, no one should be denied [the] right to get treatment even when one doesn’t have resources.”

Published in Dawn, September 14th, 2017