Punjab province in Pakistan signs agreement with Novartis Access against chronic diseases

Poor patients in Punjab will have access to high-quality  medicines against noncommunicable, chronic diseases thanks to agreement between government and Novartis Access. Punjab government will make medicines available free of charge through public sector hospitals from early 2018 onward Pakistan is among the countries most affected by chronic diseases; more than half of its population lives in the Punjab province - Today, the provincial government of Punjab in Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Novartis to roll out Novartis Access. Poor patients in the province of Punjab will soon have free access to high-quality medicines from the Novartis Access portfolio targeting four key noncommunicable disease areas (NCDs): cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, respiratory illnesses, and breast cancer. The agreement also includes the implementation of innovative software to track and monitor individual patient access and adherence. "We are very mindful of the warnings from the World Health Organization and World Bank that Pakistan's chronic disease problem urgently needs to be addressed with high-quality treatment and care." said Mian Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Chief Minister Punjab. "We are pleased that public-private partnerships like the one with Novartis Access can measurably improve healthcare services and capabilities in the province," he added. Punjab province, with a population of 110 million, is the largest province in Pakistan, representing more than half of the country's population.