Minister stresses transparent, timely aid for patients during Mayo Hospital visit

ISLAMABAD, Apr 01 (APP): Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety, Syed Imran Ahmed Shah Wednesday underscored that ensuring transparent and timely financial assistance to deserving patients is a top government priority.

The minister stated this during his visit to the Mayo Hospital in Lahore to review support being provided through Pakistan Bait-ul-Mal (PBM).
During the visit, the minister conducted a detailed assessment of PBM’s individual financial assistance mechanism, with particular focus on transparency and prompt disbursement to patients in need, said a news release.

He was briefed that from 2021 to 2026, PBM has disbursed Rs. 685.8 million for the treatment of 3,035 patients at Mayo Hospital.
In the financial year 2024–25 alone, Rs. 321.4 million were provided to 1,180 patients, while in the current financial year, Rs. 106.6 million have so far been released for 535 patients. Additionally, Rs. 190 million were allocated last year specifically for cancer patients at the hospital.

The minister noted that similar visits had been conducted to major healthcare institutions across the country, including Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Nuclear Oncology and Radiotherapy Institute (NORI), National Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine (NIRM) and Nishtar Hospital, where directives had been issued to establish PBM facilitation desks to improve patient access to services.

On the occasion, he directed authorities to further streamline the system to ensure efficiency and transparency in disbursement.
He also clarified that PBM assistance is not Zakat, but a government-funded welfare mechanism designed to support deserving patients.
Reiterating the government’s commitment, the minister said that strengthening social protection through effective and accountable delivery of assistance remains a key priority.