Daijiworld Media Network - Islamabad

Islamabad, Apr 18: Free cancer treatment services at major public hospitals in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have been severely affected due to a funding crunch, leaving hundreds of vulnerable patients without access to essential medicines.

According to officials, more than 1,000 registered patients are currently awaiting treatment at key institutions, including Hayatabad Medical Complex, Khyber Teaching Hospital, and Ayub Teaching Hospital. The delay is attributed to insufficient release of funds for the ongoing financial year.

Shahidullah Khan stated that efforts are underway to secure additional funding through coordination with the Planning and Development Department. The government reportedly allocated 820 million Pakistani Rupees so far, falling short of the required 1,500 million, with a significant gap yet to be filled.

Hospital sources indicate that medicine supplies are critically low. At Ayub Teaching Hospital, only a limited number of patients have received free drugs since August 2025, and current stock is nearly exhausted. Meanwhile, Khyber Teaching Hospital has reportedly run out of medicines entirely, leaving hundreds of patients waiting.

Medical experts associated with the initiative noted that over 10,000 patients have benefited since the programme’s launch. They warned that interruptions in treatment—especially for late-stage cancer patients—could have fatal consequences, given the high cost of medication.

The crisis is further compounded by a sharp rise in medicine prices across the country. In markets such as Rawalpindi, including the well-known Bohor Bazaar, prices of essential drugs have surged dramatically, in some cases increasing by up to 500 percent.

Reports indicate steep hikes in the cost of insulin devices, antibiotics, and medicines for chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and thyroid disorders. The rising ??????? have made treatment increasingly unaffordable for low-income patients.

Critics have described the situation as “unbearable,” urging the government to step in urgently to stabilize prices and ensure the continuity of life-saving treatment programmes.