Young ailing patient on verge of dying owing to financial difficulties

Appeal to philanthropists, govt elect to help him undergo the bone marrow transplant

ISLAMABAD: In what can best be described as a tragic, heart rending and moving dilemma a young patient suffering from a rare disease is dying because he cannot afford to incur the cost of the expensive treatment as government hospitals lack such treatment facilities.

Hassan Ali,20, has been diagnosed with aplastic anemia and has been recommended for Allogeneic Bone Marrow Transplant as early as possible.

Aplastic anemia is a rare but serious blood disorder in which the bone marrow does not produce new cells, leaving the body susceptible to bleeding and infection.  It is primarily a disease contracted by children and younger adults but can occur at any age.



Hassan has come from Skardu, Gilgit-Baltistan, for the treatment in the federal capital.  The disease was diagnosed in Bone Marrow Transplant Centre of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) where he was initially treated. However, due to overage and dearth of resources the patient was referred to a private hospital.

Officials of Pims Bone Marrow Transplant Centre says they prefer to conduct the procedure on children upto 14 years of age since rate of success is not very high for adults.

Furthermore, due to space, and staff constraints they have a long list of over 400 patients waiting for their turn. Instead of asking the patient to wait till 2021 they prefer to recommend the patient to go to a private facility, one of the consultants said.

Since the centre is for pediatrics they prefer to treat children below the age of 14 first who have a greate chances of survival as compared to adults. Currently for two beds hundreds of patients wait for turn to be treated at the centre.

Hassan as recommended, has now been admitted to Shifa International Hospital but the treatment will start after the amount is transferred to the hospital account. The estimated cost of treatment is Rs.2.5 million but they can’t afford the expensive treatment, says the poor and old father of Hassan.

“I’m a labourer and used to support six  members of my family but due to the illness of my son I’m neither able to earn anything nor finance the treatment.  My son is ill for the last one year and I came to Islamabad after borrowing money”.



Doctors have suggested the bone marrow transplant as soon as possible but I’m unable to do anything for my eldest son, he said appealing to all Pakistanis to help him.

Ali lying in hospital bed bemoaned that youngsters of his age are celebrating Independence Day occasion but he can't due to his illness. He appealed  to the prime minister elect, philanthropist to help him undergo this procedure so that he can be hale and hearty and support his poor old parents and serve his country.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 12^th, 2018.