Peshawar:In a major development for thalassemia patients across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Barrister Dr. Muhammad Ali Saif, Advisor to the Chief Minister on Information, announced that the provincial government will formally include thalassemia treatment under the Sehat Card Plus as per the vision of ex-Prime Minister and PTI founder Imran Khan. He made this announcement while addressing a World Thalassemia Day event at Alkhidmat Hospital, Peshawar.The decision was taken after discussions with the Chief Minister, who committed to not only expanding healthcare access to thelesimia patients but also confirmed that the provincial government will facilitate NGOs and organizations working in the thalassemia sector. He emphasized that the government will stand by those institutions actively serving patients, recognizing them as strategic partners in the fight against the disease.
Calling thalassemia a national and social challenge, Barrister Dr. Saif urged civil society, media, and religious institutions to play a more active role. He encouraged community awareness campaigns through FM radio, social platforms, and mosque sermons. He further disclosed coordination with the Ministry of Religious Affairs to ensure imams and religious scholars deliver information-based sermons addressing the causes and prevention of thalassemia.Barrister Dr. Saif also highlighted the importance of addressing social stigmas around blood donation. “Misconceptions that donating blood weakens the body or is religiously impermissible must be corrected through education and advocacy,” he said.He called for greater public involvement, urging stakeholders to share suggestions and exert positive pressure on the government to keep the issue a top priority. “Governance works best when the public takes ownership. This is not just a government duty, it is a collective responsibility,” he said.Concluding his address, Barrister Dr. Saif praised the role of Alkhidmat Foundation and other organizations, stating that their tireless efforts to serve underprivileged patients were beyond words. “Their reward lies with Allah,” he added.