Bannu: The excessive increase in the prices of medicines has made medical treatment difficult for the common and poor people. The government should waive the taxes imposed on medicines in order to provide relief to the public so that ordinary people can easily afford their treatment. The purpose of free medical camps is to ensure that people can receive free treatment.
These views were expressed by District Chairman of All Pakistan Chemists Association Muhammad Alam Khan, Chairman of Himmat Welfare Organization Dr. Abdul Rauf Qureshi, renowned physician Dr. Umar Orakzai, Jamal Qamar, and Lady Doctor Naima Abuzar while talking to the media at the inauguration of a free medical camp held at a private clinic on Women’s Hospital Road.
They said that under the Constitution of Pakistan, it is the responsibility of the government to ensure the provision of basic health facilities. However, it is unfortunate that in the country, common people are deprived of basic healthcare due to expensive medicines. The main reason behind this is the excessive taxes imposed on medicines. There is a huge difference between the prices of medicines in neighboring countries and in Pakistan.
They demanded that medicines should be declared tax-free in the country for the welfare of the public, which would directly benefit ordinary citizens. They added that today’s free medical camp is part of the same effort to provide free treatment to the poor and needy.
At the medical camp, patients were provided with free ultrasound, free laboratory tests, and free medical check-ups. After diagnosis, medicines donated by various pharmaceutical companies were distributed free of cost among patients. On this occasion, the doctors of the center also expressed their commitment to organize such free medical camps every two to three months so that poor patients in underdeveloped areas can receive treatment facilities without any difficulty.
The inauguration was carried out by cutting the ribbon, and prayers were offered for the success of the center.
