HFH medicine funds fall short

Holy Family Hospital (HFH), the city's largest public-sector hospital, has received only Rs480 million in medicines funding for the current fiscal year against a demand of Rs1.5 billion, while outstanding payments of Rs1.15 billion for medicines purchased over the past two years remain unpaid.

The hospital, which has 1,052 beds and caters to a large number of patients through its inpatient, emergency and outpatient departments, had requested Rs1.5 billion from the Punjab Health Department for medicines for the fiscal year 2026-27. However, only Rs480 million has so far been released.

According to sources, the hospital also owes vendors Rs1.15 billion for medicines purchased during fiscal years 2024-25 and 2025-26. The shortfall in the current year's medicine budget has made it increasingly difficult for the hospital to maintain the supply of free medicines to patients.

However, HFH MS Dr Ijaz Butt said the hospital was fully implementing the Punjab government's policy of providing free medicines to patients.

He said the hospital was ensuring the availability of all medicines covered under the free-medicine schedule. Patients were being provided free medicines and laboratory tests in the emergency department, outpatient department and wards, he added.