RAWALPINDI:
The Punjab government’s announcement to provide free medicine in government hospitals has become virtually impossible to implement in Rawalpindi’s three major government hospitals due to insufficient medicine budgets. Outstanding payments to suppliers for drugs already procured have reached Rs 1.95 billion.
According to sources, in the presence of Rs550 million outstanding dues for drug procurement in the financial year 2024-25, outstanding obligations to suppliers have now increased to Rs1.40 billion for the current year.
Holy Family Hospital faces a charge of Rs800 million, Benazir Bhutto General Hospital Rs350 million and Rawalpindi Teaching Hospital Rs250 million.
It is worth mentioning that Holy Family Hospital, the city’s largest hospital with 1,052 beds and 25 operating theatres, used to receive a medical budget of Rs600 million during Imran Khan’s government, which was later reduced. For the financial year 2024-25, the hospital required Rs1.20 billion but was issued only Rs330 million. For 2025-26, against a requirement of Rs 1.50 billion, only Rs 380 million was released.
Similarly, in the current financial year, despite requiring Rs2 billion for medicines, the hospital again received only Rs380 million.
The city’s second largest hospital, Benazir Bhutto General Hospital, was issued Rs380 million for 2024-25 despite Rs330 million in outstanding medicine dues. In 2025-26, it received Rs.400 million, while medicines worth Rs.800 million were purchased. Of the resulting shortfall of Rs400 million, Rs70 million was paid from another head, leaving Rs330 million outstanding. For the current financial year, a claim of Rs1.25 billion was made but only Rs380 million 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 EDs, OPDs, operation theatres, ICUs, critical areas and wards. The shortage has created serious difficulties for citizens.
