The Punjab government launched a program in May this year to deliver medicines to cancer and cardiac patients at their homes. However, it has recently been revealed that medicines have not been delivered to over 31,000 patients.
According to the health department’s statistics, 31,000 patients in various districts and rural areas of Punjab have yet to receive their medicines due to a lack of resources.
Following an inquiry into the matter by the Department of Specialized Healthcare, two officials have been suspended.
Documents available to Urdu News reveal that Drug Controller Amir Shahid and Deputy Drug Controller Azeem Butt have been removed from their positions.
Muhammad Adil, a 35-year-old heart patient from Faisalabad, shared his disappointment with the Punjab government’s medicine delivery program. “We were informed that the government would deliver medicines directly to the homes of chronic patients registered with hospitals.
However, I have never received any medicines at my home. I still have to visit the hospital, which takes up an entire day, and often, I find that certain medicines are unavailable and must be purchased externally. It feels like this program exists only in name; we have no idea who is benefitting from it,” he said.
Similarly, Sugra Bibi, a cancer patient under treatment at Lahore’s Mayo Hospital, still visits the hospital to collect free cancer medications. “I heard on TV that medicines would be delivered to the homes of cancer patients, but no such delivery has ever reached me. If this program is active, we haven’t been informed,” she remarked.
A Program with Lofty Goals, but Limited Results
Launched in May 2024, the Punjab government’s initiative aimed to deliver medicines to the homes of chronic heart and cancer patients registered for free treatment. According to government data, 203,057 patients across Punjab are registered for free medicines, with the highest number (75,000) at the Punjab Institute of Cardiology in Lahore, followed by 60,000 at the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology. However, over 31,000 patients have not received their medicines despite these efforts, as per official reports.
An unnamed health department official highlighted the program’s shortcomings. “There are millions of patients across Punjab who rely on free hospital medicines. When the program started, it primarily focused on Lahore and other major cities, but the required infrastructure was never established. The health department lacks adequate riders and a comprehensive plan to ensure timely delivery of medicines,” the official explained.
The official also mentioned that limited resources allowed only a fraction of patients to benefit from the program. “When a six-month report was presented to the Chief Minister, it revealed that medicines were not reaching patients’ homes. Following an inquiry, some officials were suspended, and plans are now being made to restart the initiative with better planning.”
Government Response
Punjab’s Health Minister, Khawaja Salman Rafique, acknowledged the challenges. “Our home-delivery medicine program is part of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s vision, and we are committed to its success. Whenever a program starts, there are bound to be shortcomings, which we consider feedback for improvement. With this feedback, we are working to enhance the program and will soon be able to deliver medicines directly to patients’ homes.”
He also pointed out logistical issues: “In some cases, medicines were dispatched but returned due to incorrect addresses. This happened in many cases.”
The Way Forward
The Punjab government’s initiative was ambitious and aimed to ease the burden on patients needing regular medications. However, the lack of proper infrastructure, resources, and planning hindered its success. As efforts are underway to revamp the program, patients across Punjab remain hopeful that this vital service will soon become reliable and accessible.
