LAHORE: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre has spent Rs14.72 billion on the treatment of poor patients since its inception, including Rs2.65 billion, in the year 2013.

According to a press release, Shaukat Khanum hospital continued to provide state-of-the-art cancer care to patients irrespective of their ability to pay. Almost 75 per cent of hospital patients are being treated free of cost.

In 2013, hospital’s intake of new cancer patients was 9,211, while the hospital recorded nearly 175,000 visits of the patients in the outpatient department. Some 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 the increasing number of cancer patients, a Women Imaging Unit was established to diagnose and treat such patients in the 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 proper monitoring.

Similarly, two new radiation bunkers were built to install two new linear accelerators. These machines will reduce the load of patients on the 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.

More indigent cancer patients were treated free of cost in 2013 as compared to the previous year in Diagnostic Centre and Clinic in Karachi. A plan was also devised to open a Walk-in Clinic in Multan with a view to facilitate the patients from southern Punjab and Balochistan.

In order to complete the ongoing projects and also to provide cancer treatment to maximum number of patients, the hospital has set a budget of Rs6.8 billion for the year 2014.

According to the press release, the construction of Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre in Peshawar continues apace.