Construction of cancer hospital in Lahore will be started next year:Kh. Salman Rafique

Lahore: Advisor on Health Kh. Salman Rafique has said that the work on the project of construction of cancer hospital in Lahore will be started next year for which Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif has allocated 20 acre land on Badian Road adjacent to Knowledge Park.

He said that the Health Department with the cooperation of Novartis Pharma had started the project of providing free medicines to blood cancer patients last year. An agreement had been signed in the presence of Chief Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif, under which, costly medicines are being provided to 1800 registered cancer patients free of cost, he added.

He said this while addressing a function held in connection with successful completion of one year of the project launched for free treatment of blood cancer patients in Punjab on the occasion of World Cancer Day at a local hotel, today. Secretary Health Jawad Rafique Malik, focal person of Choronic Myloid Leukemia and Principal Allama Iqbal Medical College Prof. Mehmood Shaukat, Shafique Ahmed of Novartis Pharma, Prof. Ijaz Shah, Prof. Akram, representatives of pharmaceutical companies, medical experts, doctors and cancer patients attended the function. Giving briefing about the success of the project, Prof. Mehmood Shaukat told that free medicines are being provided to 1800 registered blood cancer patients on monthly basis under Punjab CML project for which patients have been registered from all districts of the province. He said that whole system is highly transparent and computerized and special cards have been provided to the patients, Prof. Mehmood Shaukat said that after the launching of this project, the survival rate of blood cancer patients have increased. He said that medicines of billions of rupees are being provided free of cost with the financial cooperation of Novartis Pharma. Shafiq Ahmed of Novartis Pharma said that his company is spending billions of dollars on the provision of free medicines to poor patients every year throughout the world and discharging its responsibilities under corporate social responsibilities.

Addressing the function, Secretary Health Jawad Rafique Malik said that the treatment of cancer patients is very costly and complicated and Novartis Pharma has set a glorious example of selecting this highly sensitive field. He said that government intends to double the number of registered patients under CML project. Secretary Health appreciated the services and efforts of Technical Wing of Health Department, focal person of the project Prof. Mehmood Shaukat for running this project in highly disciplined manner and providing facilities to blood cancer patients. He disclosed that PC II of the project of construction of cancer hospital in Lahore has been approved while PC I will be approved in next year. Jawad Rafique Malik said that education and health are 80 percent of social sector whereas health sector is very sensitive.

Kh. Salman Rafiq said that government is working on a number of projects for the development of health sector and paying attention to primary and secondary health care as well as eradication of diseases. He told that planning has been made to provide specialist doctors at district headquarters hospitals within 120 days. He said that labour room facility is being provided to women 24 hours at 150 basic health centers under 24/7 project and its scope will be extended to 650 basic health centers next year.