RAWALPINDI: The availability of free medicines for patients in the three government hospitals in the garrison city is likely to stop next month as the Health Department has failed to release needed funds in this head.

“Holy Family Hospital (HFH) Satellite Town, Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH) Murree Road and Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital (RTC) Raja Bazaar had demanded Rs4.5 billion budget for the fiscal year 2025-26. However, the Punjab government released Rs2.5 billion and promised to provide the remaining amount of Rs2 billion in May 2026. It did not release the amount so far and vendors have refused to provide more medicines without being paid,” said a senior official of HFH while talking to Dawn.

He said HFH, BBH and RTC purchased medicines till June 30, but funds were not available to pay to distributors and vendors for the supply of more medicines.

“If funds are not released, the distributors will not provide medicines for the next month,” he said.

Three hospitals demanded Rs4.5bn for fiscal year 2025-26, but Punjab government released only Rs2.5bn so far

The official added that HFH had requested for Rs1.5 billion for the purchase of medicines but was provided Rs400 million. Benazir Bhutto General Hospital (BBGH) also sought Rs1.5 billion, and received only Rs380 million, while RTC demanded Rs1 billion and was provided Rs250 million.

“The situation will deteriorate in coming days when the hospitals will not provide any free medicines to patients,” he said.

“Punjab government had asked the hospitals to provide free medicines to outdoor, indoor, emergency and admitted patients. The three hospitals had demanded Rs4.5 billion for the fiscal year 2025-26,” confirmed a senior official of Rawalpindi Medical University while talking to Dawn.

However, he said insufficient funds will affect the free medicine programme and people would criticise the government and the hospital administration. He said RMU syndicate had also expressed concerns over the situation and demanded the release of funds. “The matter was brought into the notice of Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Raffique also,” he said.

When contacted, HFH Medical Superintendent Dr Ijaz Butt said the hospital had demanded funds for free medicines but there was a shortfall of Rs900 million. He said that the finance department had promised to provide funds in May, but no funds were released so far.

BBH Medical Superintendent Dr Sharjeel said they had demanded more than Rs1 billion, but the needed funds were not released.

However, he said that for the fiscal year, “we managed to purchase medicines but the situation will get worse in coming fiscal year.” He said that vendors and distributors had demanded the release of their dues before the end of the fiscal year by June.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2026