Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH & RC) was conceived by the world famous cricketer, Imran Khan. His personal experience of dealing with cancer, after his mother was diagnosed with colon cancer, and her subsequent death from this disease, convinced him of the need for a state-of-the-art cancer centre, accessible to all, regardless of their ability to pay, in Pakistan. The Hospital's mission is focused towards provision of modern cancer care while maintaining access to the poor as well as to participate in education and research in the field of cancer. The hospital's fundraising campaign culminated in the opening of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre on December the 29th, 1994.

For the year 2007, the operating budget is US$24 million, about half of which comes from public philanthropy and the other half from revenue-generating services of the hospital. About 75% of all cancer patient visits are supported by philanthropic support by the Hospital, while 25% of cancer patient visits are self paying or 'third-party paid'. All philanthropic donations are directly used for patient care and the hospital's self-generated clinical revenue is used for infrastructure and support costs. Over US$70 million, or four billion rupees, have been spent on philanthropically supported patient care from 1994 to 2007.

SKMCH & RC has tried to keep pace with the growing increase in need for cancer services and today, it is the nation's only specialized cancer institution in the country. The 100-bed hospital is built over a 20 acre campus with approximately 200,000 sq ft covered area. Some idea of the quantum of work can be gained by the following statistics from 2006:

The hospital employs a staff of nearly 1,200 with 44 full time attending physicians in various specialties - all of whom are trained internationally. Formal training programs for doctors, nursing staff, allied medical staff and other technical staff are in place. Collaborative work in education, training, and clinical and basic science research with international and national institutions is ongoing.

A recently completed 'Services and Administrative Building' adds about 55,000 sq ft of space and houses the hospital's laundry, central sterile supply department, medical records, storage and administrative offices of the hospital. Space freed up within the main building by this move has created room for a new, 16-bedded, intensive care unit, a PET-CT scan system and other clinical services. Construction of a new multilevel clinical building is planned to commence in the first quarter of 2008. This will be our fourth clinical building, as envisioned in the original master plan. It will allow for a doubling of our current inpatient capacity, allow the construction of new operating theatres, development of new, dedicated paediatric and adolescent chemotherapy bays, a purpose-built bone marrow transplant unit, a new endoscopy suite and a new, state-of-the-art pathology laboratory. As we embark on this latest venture, SKMCH & RC continues to commit itself to providing world class cancer care to it's patients, regardless of their ability to pay. We pledge ourselves to continuing our role as a model for others to follow, not only in healthcare, but for all those committed to the pursuit of excellence.

For details please visit www.shaukatkhanum.org.pk