MS Patients in K‑P Struggle as Provincial Health Card Excludes Essential Therapy

Peshawar, Pakistan – A growing number of multiple‑sclerosis sufferers in Khyber‑Pakhtunkhwa are finding continuity of care increasingly out of reach. The province’s Sehat Card Plus health‑insurance scheme, intended to lower the cost of treatment for low‑income families, presently does not list disease‑modifying drugs for MS among its covered items.

Because these medicines are among the most expensive components of MS management, patients are forced to pay the full price themselves. The financial burden is prompting many to skip doses or halt therapy altogether, a move that can accelerate disability and diminish quality of life.

Provincial health officials have acknowledged the shortfall, noting that the programme’s current design focuses on acute and infectious illnesses. Local advocacy groups are urging a policy revision to incorporate chronic neurological conditions, arguing that early, uninterrupted treatment saves long‑term costs for both families and the health system.

For the South‑Asian diaspora, the issue resonates deeply; remittances often support relatives’ medical expenses, and the news highlights the need for continued engagement with health policy reforms back home.