A group of students from Harvard Kennedy School, USA visited Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC). The purpose of the visit was to give the students a sense of vibrant civil society and governance structure that characterises contemporary Pakistan, and scope of reform in education, health and research in Pakistan.
The hospital's Chief Executive Officer, Dr Faisal Sultan gave an overview of the journey and facilities and vision of the hospital. He told the students that a large majority of cancer care is provided free of cost to those who cannot afford it, adding that since the inception of the hospital, support worth over rupees eight billion was provided to patients.
He highlighted the need for qualified individuals in all spheres of hospital operations and the challenge of recruiting and retaining the best. He also apprised about the role of technology and its increasing costs and shared successes in developing and implementing a hospital-wide information system to cater to all clinical, administrative and financial needs.
"The operating budget of the hospital for year 2011 is Rs 3.5 billion, half of which would be met from donations and Zakat, while the remaining from revenue services of the hospital," he said. While discussing future plans of SKMCH&RC, Dr Sultan informed that plans are well underway for commencement of construction of complete cancer hospitals in Karachi and Peshawar.
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