Free medicine spending hits Rs 4.82 billion as federal hospital exceeds budget twice

Government spending on free or subsidised medicines at six federal health facilities rose to Rs 4.82 billion in the financial year

Islamabad:  Government spending on free or subsidised medicines at six federal health facilities rose to Rs 4.82 billion in the financial year 2025 to 2026, while one government hospital spent more than its allocated medicine budget for two consecutive years, according to figures presented in the Senate.

The figures show that total expenditure on the programme increased from Rs 2.64 billion in 2023 to 2024 to Rs 3.78 billion in 2024 to 2025 and Rs 4.82 billion in 2025 to 2026. Over the three years, spending reached around Rs 11.23 billion.

The Federal Government Hospital exceeded its allocated budget for free or subsidised medicines in both 2023 to 2024 and 2024 to 2025. It spent Rs 172.5 million against an allocation of Rs 137 million in the first year, and Rs 69.97 million against Rs 68 million in the second year. In 2025 to 2026, its expenditure fell to Rs 59.96 million against a budget of Rs 60 million.

The figures were shared by Federal Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal in response to a question from Senator Muhammad Azam Khan Swati, who sought details of the money allocated and spent on free or subsidised medicines over the past three years, as well as the number of patients treated.

The total budget for the six facilities stood at Rs 2.60 billion in 2023 to 2024, while actual spending reached Rs 2.64 billion, exceeding the overall allocation by around Rs 32.65 million. In 2024 to 2025, the government allocated Rs 3.78 billion and spent Rs 3.776 billion. In 2025 to 2026, the allocation rose to Rs 4.82 billion, with spending reaching Rs 4.819 billion.

The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences recorded the largest expenditure among the listed facilities. Its spending rose from Rs 1.207 billion in 2023 to 2024 to Rs 2.281 billion in 2024 to 2025 and Rs 3.264 billion in 2025 to 2026. The Federal Government Polyclinic spent Rs 1.163 billion, Rs 1.300 billion and Rs 1.364 billion in the same three years.

The National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine spent Rs 40.91 million in 2023 to 2024, Rs 57.05 million in 2024 to 2025 and Rs 51.91 million in 2025 to 2026. The Federal Government TB Centre spent Rs 19 million, Rs 19.68 million and Rs 16.75 million, while the District Health Officer Islamabad spent Rs 34.52 million, Rs 48.76 million and Rs 62 million.

The ministry also reported a rise in the total number of patients treated at the six facilities, from 4,807,434 in 2023 to 2024 to 4,974,937 in 2024 to 2025 and 5,288,078 in 2025 to 2026.

PIMS treated 2,120,931 patients in the first year, 2,265,795 in the second and 2,335,637 in the third. The Federal Government Polyclinic treated 1,311,310, 1,121,291 and 1,342,292 patients respectively.

The National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine treated 145,956 patients in 2023 to 2024, 154,313 in 2024 to 2025 and 163,111 in 2025 to 2026. The Federal Government Hospital treated 316,469, 316,131 and 293,847 patients, while the Federal Government TB Centre recorded 59,929, 57,137 and 69,548 patients.

The District Health Officer Islamabad, through its primary health centres, treated 852,839 patients in 2023 to 2024. The number increased to 1,060,270 in 2024 to 2025 and 1,085,643 in 2025 to 2026.