The fate of over 525,000 cancer patients is at extreme risk as 14 cancer hospitals run by the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) are facing acute financial crunch.
PAEC, under its Nuclear Medicine and Oncology Department, is providing the facilities of diagnosis and treatment of cancer and allied diseases to the patients from all over the country employing Nuclear Medicine and Radiation in 12 cities through 14 hospitals.
But now as the cancer burden is increasing inPakistanannually by 10 to 12% so the PAEC Cancer Hospitals are facing immense financial crunch whereas they are totally dependent on the government funding. In total the financial crunch is calculated Rs.450 million annually, in which Rs.250 million are needed for operational expenses and over Rs.200 million are required to fulfill consumables needs for expensive cancer treatment.
Last year 525,000 cancer patients got treatment at PAEC Cancer Hospitals and at the same time there is a trend of an annual increase of around 15% in patient’s turnout. So the administration of these hospitals is fuddled to meet the financial requirements and agonized to operate to fight with this alarming increase of cancer patients inPakistan.
Although PAEC Cancer Hospitals are equipped with hi-tech equipment but immediately there is also the need of upgradation to latest technology for better treatment and research.
The situation has also been aggravated even more due to the recent devolution as now the health has become a provincial subject whereas PAEC Cancer Hospitals are under the Federal Government.
Pink RibbonPakistan, through this petition, urges the Prime Minister of Pakistan to take immediate notice of this situation and to release funds to PAEC Cancer Hospitals for their effective running as well as upgradation to address the challenge of increasing cancer incidence in the country.
National Coordinator of the Pink Ribbon Campaign Mr. Omer Aftab has requested the Prime Minister that if government can allocate Rs.60.00 million each for 272 MNAs then why can’t money be given to these 14 hospitals which benefit the poorest of the poor people of Pakistan and if Rs.2.9 billion can be spent on the construction of Parliamentary Lodges then why can’t money be spent on the upgradation of technology of these hospitals?