Patients with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province are worried about the rising treatment expenses and limited access to advanced care for this chronic neurological condition. They are urging the government to provide financial assistance to young individuals at risk of disability. The Express Tribune reported that there are an estimated 12,000-14,000 MS-diagnosed patients in Pakistan, with doctors highlighting the significant annual treatment costs that can go up to nearly PKR 1 million per patient.
Medical experts have noted that some patients rely on the provincial Sehat Card program for treatment, but the coverage amount often falls short of meeting the total treatment expenses. Moreover, public hospitals lack modern therapies for MS. Due to insufficient funding, many patients are compelled to discontinue their therapy, a situation that neurologists warn could lead to a rapid progression of the disease.
Multiple Sclerosis is a condition where the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord, resulting in diverse symptoms such as vision issues, fatigue, mobility challenges, and limb weakness. While the exact causes of MS remain unknown, a family history of the disease may elevate the risk. Although there is no cure for MS, treatment can alleviate symptoms, prevent further relapses, and enhance the quality of life, as per the World Health Organization (WHO).
In a separate development, the prices of medications surged in Pakistan’s Rawalpindi, including the pharmaceutical hub of Bohor Bazaar, with reports indicating hikes ranging from 50% to 500%. Essential medicines for diabetes, hypertension, infections, gastrointestinal ailments, and respiratory conditions have all seen price spikes. For instance, the cost of an insulin injection device in the open market surged from PKR 2,200 to PKR 4,720, as reported by The Express Tribune. Critics have criticized these price increases as burdensome, emphasizing that the elevated costs of essential medical devices like insulin injectors hinder low-income patients’ access to vital treatments, and they are calling on the government to intervene.
