RAWALPINDI:
The Punjab government’s announcement to provide free medicines in government hospitals has become virtually impossible to implement in the three major government hospitals in Rawalpindi due to insufficient budgets for medicines. Outstanding payments to suppliers for drugs already purchased have reached Rs 1,950 crore.
According to sources, in the presence of outstanding dues of Rs 550 crore for procurement of drugs in the financial year 2024-25, the outstanding obligations with suppliers have now increased to Rs 1,400 crore for the current year.
Holy Family Hospital faces dues of Rs 800 million, Benazir Bhutto General Hospital Rs 350 million and Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital Rs 250 million.
It is worth mentioning that the Holy Family Hospital, the largest hospital in the city with 1,052 beds and 25 operation theatres, used to receive a medicine budget of Rs 600 million during the Imran Khan government, which was later reduced. For the financial year 2024-25, the hospital demanded Rs 1,200 crore but received only Rs 330 crore. By 2025-26, against a demand of Rs 1,500 crore, only Rs 380 crore was released.
Similarly, in the current financial year, despite demanding Rs 2,000 million for medicines, the hospital again received only Rs 380 million.
The city’s second largest hospital, Benazir Bhutto General Hospital, received Rs 380 million for 2024-25 despite Rs 330 million in outstanding dues for medicines. In 2025-26, it received Rs 400 million, while medicines worth Rs 800 million were purchased. Of the resulting shortfall of Rs 400 million, Rs 70 million was paid from another item, leaving Rs 330 million outstanding. For the current fiscal year, a demand of Rs 1,250 crore was made, but only Rs 380 crore was released.
The situation at Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital is also unsatisfactory.
Government hospitals are now unable to ensure supply of medicines as per the needs of patients in emergency departments, OPDs, operation theatres, ICUs, intensive care areas and wards. The shortage has created serious difficulties for citizens.
