Islamabad, June 7: Patients suffering from Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province are expressing deep concerns over the skyrocketing treatment costs and a lack of modern healthcare facilities. Patients and their families are urging the government to provide financial assistance to prevent young patients from facing preventable disabilities.
According to a report by The Express Tribune, doctors estimate that the number of MS patients in Pakistan ranges between 12,000 and 14,000, although comprehensive national data on the disease is lacking.
Experts indicate that annual treatment for a single patient can cost up to 1 million Pakistani Rupees. Some patients are receiving treatment under the provincial health card program, but organizations advocating for patient rights claim that the funds provided do not cover the full cost of treatment.
Moreover, there is a significant shortage of modern treatment facilities in government hospitals. Due to insufficient financial support, many patients are forced to discontinue their treatment midway. Neurologists warn that this can lead to a rapid progression of the disease, severely impacting the patient’s condition.
Multiple Sclerosis is an autoimmune disease where the body’s immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord. Symptoms can vary widely among individuals and depend on the severity of nerve damage. Common symptoms include vision problems, extreme fatigue, difficulty walking and maintaining balance, and numbness or weakness in limbs.
Experts note that the exact causes of MS remain unclear, but having a family member with the disease can increase risk. According to the WHO, there is no permanent cure for MS; however, symptoms can be managed through treatment, which can reduce the likelihood of relapses and improve the patient’s quality of life.
The report also highlighted that in April, prices for various medications in Pakistan’s open market and the Bohar Market drug center in Rawalpindi surged between 50% to 500%. Prices for diabetes, hypertension, antibiotics, gastrointestinal, and cough medications have also risen significantly. The cost of insulin injection devices has increased from 2,200 to 4,720 Pakistani Rupees.
Critics have labeled this price hike as “unbearable” for the general public, stating that insulin devices priced between 2,000 to 5,000 Rupees are becoming increasingly inaccessible for low-income patients. They are calling on the government to intervene and regulate the prices of essential medications.
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