Balochistan allocates Rs2 billion for endowment fund

The Balochistan government has allocated Rs2 billion for the Balochistan Awami Endowment Fund in financial year 2021-22 to ensure quality healthcare facilities for maximum number of poor people who were suffering from chronic diseases.

Provincial Minister for Social Welfare and Non-Formal Education Asadullah Baloch on Wednesday told APP that the government had provided financial assistance to 1,800 poor patients so far under the funding programme.

He said the provincial government had also allocated Rs3 billion supplementary funds initially which were further enhanced with an additional grant of Rs1 billion last year.

The minister said the assistance was being provided to the poor and needy patients suffering from different chronic diseases under the programme to get them treated in the best public and private sector hospitals across the country.

He said the medical board of the province gave approval of 200 to 300 cases in each meeting. The Balochistan government had formed a special team of doctors who were visiting the panel hospitals across the country to ensure provision of best treatment.

Baloch said the government was receiving Rs60 million monthly as seed money but the need of the poor people had gone above to Rs150 million.

He said the number of patients affected by cancer was particularly high in Chagai and Neseerabad districts, while the ratio of life threatening diseases was also high in Kohlu and Dera Bugti districts.

It should be noted that the treatment of cancer, liver and kidney transplantation is the most expensive which requires millions of rupees.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 8^th, 2021.