Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre: A Beacon of Hope
The hospital concept was based entirely on donations, because no government involvement was allowed to avoid bureaucratic or political influence, the hospital idea was fully funded via contributions. Imran Khan intended to establish a charity that would provide free cancer treatment to impoverished individuals regardless of their financial situation. So, Imran Khan started a donation campaign in order to build the hospital.
At the beginning only a little amount of money was raised, but Imran Khan stayed firm and modified the fundraising strategy for the hospital. He next turned to youngsters, founding the fundraising squad "Imran's Tigers." When the Tigers collected donations from motorists at traffic signals and went door to door to collect funds, they created history. They not only secured sufficient funds to construct the institution, but they also aroused public awareness about the need for the country's first cancer hospital. Imran Khan issued a nationwide appeal to collect cash from a match between Pakistan and India held at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore where he raised Rs. 2,902,600. Following it, more than 50 successful fund raisers were organized all around the world. Imran's captaincy led Pakistan to victory in the 1992 cricket world cup in Melbourne, which aided fundraising efforts. He was able to earn £1.55 million in just six weeks following the World Cup, when the same sum had taken him two years previously. He gave the project his whole award money of 85,000 pounds. After that Imran Khan and team has raised enough money to make his dream a reality.
The positive response of
the Pakistani population, both within and beyond Pakistan, was both surprising
and uplifting, thanks in no little part to Imran Khan's reputation and star
status. Imran worked relentlessly to raise cash both in the United States and
internationally, and people eagerly reacted. With publicity campaigns and
fundraisers, these donations have remained and even expanded over the years.
Building SKMCH:
Dr. Nausherwan K.
Burki MB, PhD, FRCP, FCPS, designed the Master Plan for the Hospital in 1990.
Graham Rapp of Arrasmith, Judd & Rapp, Architects in Health
Planning, USA, designed the hospital, which he managed. Nayyar Ali Dada
& Associates of Lahore were in charge of the design details on site.
Messrs. Progressive Consultants, Lahore, did the local engineering. The
hospital's foundation was laid in April 1991, and was opened on December 29,
1994. Dr. Burki served as the hospital's first CEO until September 1996, when
he took a sabbatical leave from his university.
The master plan for
SKMCH was created by a group of professionals. They designed an excellent road
map of SKMCH. The master plan was divided into three parts, with the first
phase beginning with 60 inpatient beds and all auxiliary services, and the
second phase ending with 250 inpatient beds by the end of ten years. In the
end, the timeframe was excessively ambitious, and the phases took 20 years to
complete instead of the projected 10. The hospital was constructed in
accordance with the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
Organizations (JCAHO) standards and hospital construction rules in the United
States.
Shaukat Khanum has a
presence in more than 65 cities across Pakistan through hospitals, diagnostic
centers, walk-in clinics (cancer screening centers), and laboratory collection
locations. Shaukat Khanum, Lahore has examined over 75% of cancer patients for
free. In 2017–2018, 72 percent of patients were treated completely free of
charge at the hospital. A further 13% received therapy that was just partially
free. Only 15% of patients were responsible for the entire treatment expense.
The Lahore hospital sees over 700 outpatients every day. On a daily basis,
about 130 patients get chemotherapy. Shaukat Khanum's yearly budget is R.s 28
billion, according to figures from 2022. This year, 210,667 outpatient visits
were recorded. A total of 14,840 patients have been hospitalized.
The establishment of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Center in Lahore has had a significant influence on Pakistan, not only in terms of clinical cancer care, but also in terms of hospital management, nursing, pharmacy services, and overall health management. Another hospital has been started in Karachi.
Shaukat Khanum has
been saving lives of people for many years. The supporters and well wishers of
SKMCH & RC are the driving force that led this organization to be successful.
"The best among you are those who bring greatest benefits to many others" - Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him).
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