Karachi: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre’s Karachi facility will become operational later this year, expanding access to specialised cancer care in Sindh and southern Pakistan, Chief Executive Officer Dr Faisal Sultan said in a Ramadan appeal, urging the public to donate to support the launch and sustain free and subsidised treatment for poor patients.
“Please donate generously. 2026 is the year we make SKMCH&RC Karachi operational, inshallah,” Dr Sultan said, adding that completing preparations and ensuring continuity of services would require substantial resources.
The Karachi hospital is expected to ease the burden on patients from Sindh and adjoining areas who currently travel to Lahore and Peshawar for specialised oncology services. Health experts say distance and late access to treatment remain major reasons for delayed diagnosis and poorer outcomes in cancer patients.
Shaukat Khanum hospitals in Lahore and Peshawar treat a large number of patients every year, most of whom receive free or subsidised care through donations and Zakat. The network provides services ranging from diagnostics and radiotherapy to surgical oncology, bone marrow transplants, counselling and palliative care.
Dr Sultan said the Karachi facility would be developed on similar lines, with multidisciplinary teams and modern treatment modalities. He added that the Lahore and Peshawar hospitals, along with the Karachi Diagnostic Centre and Clinic, have recently been re-accredited by Joint Commission International, reflecting adherence to international standards.
With cancer cases rising in Pakistan and many patients presenting late due to financial and access barriers, health sector observers say the Karachi hospital could play a key role in bringing comprehensive cancer care closer to patients in Sindh, provided sustained funding and workforce support are ensured.
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