LAHORE: The Punjab government is contemplating the one-dollar package offered by a multi-national company for the provision of one-month medicines per patient suffering from diabetes, hypertension, cardiac problems and breast cancer.

“Consultations with the departments concerned are under way to finalise the matter,” said Minister for Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Khwaja Salman Rafique during a meeting here on Thursday with a high-level delegation, led by Novartis Pharma’s Global Commercial Operations Head Isabel Afonso, who extended the offer.

The minister said a memorandum of understanding (MoU) would be signed with the company for the provision of these costly medicines at highly subsidised rates to the patients all over Punjab.

He said a comprehensive mechanism would be devised for provision of these medicines under a special package. Initially, he said, the package would be offered to patients at one or two healthcare facilities.

“Jinnah Hospital may be considered as the first healthcare facility to implement the package as a pilot project,” said the minister when informed by the hospital’s Medical Superintendent Dr Sohail Saqlain that the company was already providing free medicines to cancer patients registered with the facility.

Allama Iqbal Medical College Professor of Oncology Dr Akram said on the occasion that introduction of such a welfare programme would help overcome the difficulties of cancer patients as medicines of carcinoma had gone beyond the reach of common man.

The minister said health sector development and provision of free quality healthcare services to the people was the government’s priority.

Published in Dawn, March 16th, 2018