Cancer treatment: Hospices and CML testing facilities for K-P

Khattak pledges to introduce series of reforms to improve the health sector.

PESHAWAR: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervez Khattak pledged on Thursday to establish hospices and chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) testing facilities to ensure underprivileged patients do not have to travel to Punjab for laboratory tests.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the second phase of the free cancer treatment programme, he emphasised the need to develop strong public-private partnerships to streamline the programme.

The government has decided to go through with the second phase of the programme because the project was held in a transparent manner, Khattak added. According to the chief minister, the government is prepared to extend its support for programmes being conducted with the assistance of the private sector.

Speaking on the occasion, focal person for the free treatment of poor cancer patients’ programme, Dr Abid Jameel, said a total of 866 cancer patients have been treated since 2011.

Out of these, 493 were men and 373 were women. Nearly, 56% of them were between 16 to 45 years. At least 80% have completely recovered from the deadly disease.

Novartis Pharmaceutical Company Country Director Shahab Rizwi lauded the government for introducing an internationally acclaimed model to deal with the disease.

Later, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed between the government and Novartis Pharmaceutical Company to ensure cancer prevention in the province.

Overhaul

Khattak pledged to introduce a series of reforms to improve the health sector.

He urged civil society activists to share their suggestions and proposals on the matter.

He voiced concern over the quality of health care available to the underprivileged throughout the province. He castigated health officials who failed to provide adequate health care to patients and warned of action against them.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2014.