LAHORE: Patients suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) and healthcare advocates have raised concerns over possible treatment disruptions amid uncertainty surrounding funding support for the chronic neurological disease.
The high cost of treatment, coupled with limited government support, is placing many patients at risk of disability as they struggle to continue life-saving therapy.
Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease that attacks the nervous system and can lead to impaired mobility, vision problems, and long-term disability. The disease primarily affects young adults between the ages of 20 and 40, with women making up a majority of cases.
Hadia, a 23-year-old psychology graduate from Multan, was diagnosed with MS in early 2024 after suffering numbness in the right side of her body, chest pain, and weak eyesight among other symptoms. The diagnosis has placed an emotional burden on her family and affected her personally as her engagement was called off and. It also affects her work as she receives mild symptoms due to anxiety, workplace stress and fatigue makes it difficult to do household chores due to stiffness, body pain and restlessness in arms and legs.
“Multiple Sclerosis is being diagnosed more frequently now, although we still lack large-scale epidemiological data and a proper national registry,” says Dr Wajeeha Mehmood, Department of Neurology, Liaquat National Hospital. “MS patients require a multidisciplinary approach, including neurology care, physiotherapy, psychological support, and strong family and social support systems,” she said.
Health professionals estimate that annual treatment expenses can reach nearly Rs one million per patient, making long-term care unaffordable for many families.
According to Dr Mehmood, treatment can be quite costly, especially long-term DMTs, regular MRI monitoring, and rehabilitation services, which can be challenging for many patients to sustain. She says missing doses or discontinuing therapy may increase the risk of relapses and can contribute to faster disease progression and long-term disability.
At present, many patients particularly in Punjab rely on the provincial Sehat Card programme, which provides health insurance coverage of up to Rs400,000 annually. However, patients and healthcare advocates say the amount is insufficient to cover the full cost of treatment and many patients unable to arrange additional funding are often forced to interrupt therapy.
Salman, 33, a teacher from rural Okara travelled to Lahore where he was diagnosed with MS in 2013. He received different medications, and a few years ago he was prescribed DMT that stabilized his condition. However, he skipped regular treatment due to the high costs. “I cannot walk, my condition is worsening and I’m getting weak. My condition was normal before but now there is a gap in my treatment.” Salman said he has not received much support for the government and the Sehat card is not enough to cover the cost of treatment.
Hassan, a 30-year-old father of two from Lahore, said he is unable to afford the treatment and has to borrow money from relatives. Although he is currently receiving funds under the Sehat card, Hasan says the amount is insufficient, and often delayed due to extensive paper work and funds release.
The issue has gained attention as the Punjab government moves away from the Sehat Card model towards disease-specific healthcare initiatives. MS patients face further uncertainty if dedicated funding mechanisms are not introduced.
Hadia says although treatment was easily accessible, it is not affordable and her family has to use different government assistance programmes which she says is a very hectic process, extensive documentation, unprofessional behaviour of government officers, and unavailability of treatment at required timing. Moreover, she says the amount limit should be increased so that patients can receive consistent treatment.
Healthcare experts have urged authorities to ensure uninterrupted and affordable treatment for MS patients, warning that failure to do so could increase the burden on public healthcare systems. They argue that continued access to treatment would enable many patients to remain active, employed, and independent, while reducing future healthcare costs associated with advanced disability.
Hadia says she’s worried for her treatment as government assistance programmes are not reliable. “Any pause in my treatment is not good as it’s the early stage of my illness and affording it on my own is out of the question,” she added.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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