Affordable care?: FATA Secretariat allocates Rs50m for treatment at IRNUM

Cancer patients from tribal region will be facilitated at all three locations

PESHAWAR: The health directorate of FATA Secretariat has allocated Rs50 million for cancer patients from tribal areas being treated at Institute of Radiology and Nuclear Medicines (IRNUM).

An official of the directorate told The Express Tribune the PC-1 for the project has been prepared and the required funds would be released soon. FATA Secretariat has reached an agreement with IRNUM Peshawar and a Memorandum of Understanding would soon be signed.

The official added there are around 890 cancer patients from Khyber, Mohmand and Bajaur agencies registered at IRNUM in the city. The registration of patients in North Waziristan and South Waziristan and other agencies would be started soon.

The official said patients from Bajaur, Khyber and Mohmand agencies will be treated at IRNUM Peshawar. Those from North Waziristan will go to Frontier Region Bannu facility of IRNUM while those from South Waziristan would be asked to visit FR DI Khan due to the district’s proximity with the tribal agency.

Patients’ ease

There will be single window registration for patients. The focal person will be available there to help answer patients’ queries. The official said although IRNUM treats every cancer patient, the amount allocated would help reduce the burden on the hospital.

Of the allocated amount, Rs30 million would be paid to IRNUM Peshawar while Rs10 million each would be given to IRNUM facilities in FR Bannu and FR DI Khan.

When contacted, FATA Health Services Director Dr Zafeer Hussain said the MoU was ready to be signed in the next couple of days, however, the directorate was already referring patients to IRNUM.

He said before getting admitted, patients will have to provide their domiciles and computerised national identity cards; these will be counterchecked from the political agent office. Hussain said the focal person and officials at the counter would be asked to maintain a complete record of each and every patient as no one would be paid cash for the treatment.

Post registration

The registered patient would be given a special card which will have to be shown on every visit to the hospital.

Moreover, the secretariat also allocated Rs30 million for dialysis – an MoU for the fund is expected to be signed soon with Hayatabad Medical Complex.

Earlier, the secretariat had an agreement with a private laboratory, Ittefaq Primary Health and Kidney Centre, where it would send patients with kidney problems.

To avoid allegations of favouritism, the health directorate, on directions from the Governor House, decided to sign the agreement with a public sector hospital. The treatment on the first visit will cost Rs5,000 and would be paid by the FATA Secretariat.

When asked about low number of registered patients, the health director said several factors were involved, including lack of awareness, proximity issues and affordability.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 19^th, 2016.