Health Ministry and Roche Pakistan Sign Landmark Agreement to Provide Free Cancer Medicines

A formal signing ceremony for an agreement between the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination and Roche Pakistan was held to facilitate the provision of cancer treatment to patients residing in federally administered areas.

Addressing the ceremony, Federal Minister for Health, Syed Mustafa Kamal appreciated Roche Pakistan for offering a medicines support agreement and described the initiative as a landmark step towards reducing the affordability gap in cancer treatment.

The Federal Minister highlighted that Roche Pakistan provides medicines for three major types of cancer, and under this agreement, free cancer medicines will be provided to patients from Islamabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Mustafa Kamal emphasized that the medicines will be made available through the joint collaboration of the Government of Pakistan and the multinational pharmaceutical company Roche.

Syed Mustafa Kamal informed that the agreement is being signed for a period of five years, under which thousands of cancer patients will benefit.

The project will initially be launched at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, and will later be expanded based on its success.

Under the initiative, medicines will be provided for three types of cancers, including breast cancer, lung cancer, and liver cancer.

The Federal Minister noted that the cost of treatment for a single cancer patient can reach up to PKR 9.8 million, and under this agreement, medicines worth approximately PKR 10 million will be provided free of cost to each eligible patient.

He further explained that PKR 1 million will be contributed by the Government of Pakistan, while PKR 9 million will be borne by Roche Pakistan, making it a significant relief for patients and their families. Overall, 70 percent of the treatment cost will be covered by Roche, while 30 percent will be borne by the Government of Pakistan.

Patients from Islamabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan seeking treatment at PIMS will directly benefit from this facility.