Pakistan Today

Shaukat Khanum spends Rs 14b for the poor

ShaukatKhanumMemorialCancerHospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) has spent Rs 14.72 billion for the treatment of poor patients since its inception including Rs 2.65 billion in the year 2013.

According to a press release, SKMCH&RC continued to provide state-of-the-art cancer care to patients irrespective of their ability to pay. Almost 75 percent of SKMCH&RC’s patients are being treated free of cost.

In 2013, the hospital’s intake of new cancer patients was 9,211, while hospital recorded nearly 175,000 visits of cancer patients in outpatient department, 33,783 patients received chemotherapy and 53,451 got the radiation treatment in 2013.

Pakistan is among the countries which have the largest ratio of breast cancer in the region. In view of increasing number of cancer patients, a Women Imaging Unit was established to diagnose and treat breast cancer patients in Lahore hospital.

SKMCH&RC also opened a new Short Stay Unit and a Discharge Lounge to provide better facilities to the people. A new phase of ICU was also established to provide treatment to patients that are at high risk and need for proper monitoring.

Similarly, two new radiation bunkers were built to install two new linear accelerators. These machines will reduce the load of patients on radiation department. As such with these additions, hospital’s radiation department has become one of the largest centre in the region to provide such facilities.

The press release further revealed that the construction of Pakistan’s second ShaukatKhanumMemorialCancerHospital and Research Centre, in Peshawar, continues apace. Two basement floors and the ground floor have already been completed. It is pertinent to mention that more indigent cancer patients were treated free of cost in 2013 as compared to previous year in Diagnostic Centre and Clinic in Karachi. A plan was also devised to open a Walk-in Clinic in Multan with the view to facilitate patients from southern Punjab and Balochistan,

In order to complete the ongoing projects and also to provide cancer treatment to maximum patients, the hospital has set a budget of Rs 6.8 billion for the year 2014.

 

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