PHOTO: REUTERS
“Since2014 more than 5,000 newly diagnosed cancer patients have been provided free treatment,” Prof Jamil said giving an overview of the health facility at a ceremony held to mark the World Cancer Day.
He said the patients treated at the onocology unit of HMC included people suffering from blood cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, stomach and intestinal cancer, lung cancer and others under the cost sharing programme with pharmaceutical company Novartis.
Patients are being treated since 2012 at a cost of approximately Rs20.00 billion in which the provincial government has contributed Rs 1.86 billion while Novartis has contributed Rs17.73 billion. So far 80 per cent patients are alive after over five years from diagnosis, he said.
The Medical Oncology Unit of HMC held the awareness programme to observe the World Cancer Day so as to share details of its efforts towards proving free treatment to cancer patients.
K-P Secretary Health Dr Farooq Jamil was Chief Guest on this occasion. Prof Shahzad Akber Medical Director HMC welcomed the guest and gave an overview of latest diagnostic and treatment facilities being provided at HMC.
Dr Jamil, while appreciating of the services provided by HMC, assured of continued government support for treating cancer patients.
Prof Abid Jamil said that over half of the patients diagnosed and treated belong to age group ranging from 25 to 50 years. Patients coming for free treatment represent all part of K-P and amongst them 53 per cent are male while 47 per cent are female.
Monthly income of over 80 per cent of patients treated in this project was below Rs22,000.
Professor Abid Jamil who is the focal person of the project said for cancer patients this free treatment programme is not just a project it is a matter of life and death.
He hoped that the government will extend this project in the coming year in order for patients to continue receiving free cancer treatment.
Minister for Health Dr Hisham Inamullah while sharing his views via video message said that the provincial government taking steps to prevent disease.
The health minister said that every year around 5,000 new patients of cancer were registered in K-P while around 30,000 patients were getting treatment from the Medical Oncology Unit including new patients.
He further added that cancer is the second leading cause of death across the Globe and most of the poor people were affecting from this disease because they can’t afford its treatment as it is costly.
Health minister said that the patients suffering from breast cancer, blood cancer and other types of the disease are being treated in Hayatabad Medical Complex Peshawar while they also serve 20% to 25% cancer patients from the merged district of Fata.
He informed that the KP government started Oncology Centre for the Cancer Patients where patients were getting free treatment , adding that the government were allocate 1.9 billion rupees so far while the pharmaceutical company contributed 18 billion rupees for the last seven years.
Secretry Health Dr Farooq Jameel said that the government is planning to extend the program to other district as well.
He informed that as in KP the use of tobacco including Naswar and Smoking are the main causes of Cancer, adding that there is dire need of awareness among the people to prevent them from cancer disease.
Bringing peace to mental patients
Dr Hasham Inamullah, during his visit to Sarhad Mental Hospital in Peshwar Central Jail, said that 80 per cent work has been completed on Fountain House, Peshawar, a facility for people suffering from psychological disorder.
He said that patients suffering from mental disorder will be shifted to the facility soon. Dr Hisam was accompanied by Friends of Mental Hospital Chairman Dr Roohul Amin, Advisor Health Reforms Jawwad Wasif, Media Coordinator Daniyal Khan.
He announced risk allowance for doctors providing services to patients of psychological disorders.
He met with patients and directed the officials concerned and doctors to provide best medical facilities to them.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 5th, 2019.
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