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It is with utmost humility and with great pleasure that I share with you the announcement of launching of Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Center (Trust), a center of excellence in urology, nephrology, hepatology and transplantation, as an independent not for profit, charity institute in Pakistan. Fifteen years ago, while I was serving as chairman, Department of Urology at Texas Tech University, Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas, USA, I decided to move back to Pakistan to serve the homeland. Here I saw the real problems of Pakistan; a country riddled with utmost poverty, poor governance and ignored health care systems. The fact that disturbed me the most was the deadly combination of disease and poverty. The turning of a curable disease into an incurable one, just because of lack of resources was unbearable. |
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| Therefore, along with Dr Nayer Mahmud, I laid the foundation of Pakistan Kidney Institute in 2004 in the premises of Shifa International Hospital, Islamabad to deliver state of the art care in the field of urology and nephrology to underprivileged and poor patients either totally free or at minimum possible cost. | ||
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Excellence in undergraduate and post graduate medical education, cutting edge research and prevention of diseases were the other missions of PKI. By the grace of Allah, we have treated more than 83000 deserving patients since 2004 , have established one of the best residency programs in urology and nephrology on the US model, have actively participated in relief and rescue in national and international disasters and arranged seminars and lectures to create awareness regarding prevention of diseases. |
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But this was not enough. The ever increasing burden of kidney and bladder diseases, with liver diseases taking the form of an epidemic, the need to build a state of the art center of excellence for treatment of liver and kidney diseases, specifically for poor patients, was strongly felt. To turn this dream into a reality, we contacted various people and by the grace of God when the proposal was presented to the CM Punjab, Mr. Shehbaz Sharif, he listened to us very attentively, understood the spirit of the mission, offered very enthusiastic support and followed through on every promise. PKLI is no more a dream. It has turned into a reality. PKLI is an exceptional project which will provide free of cost, state of the art treatment of liver and kidney diseases including transplantation, will impart the best training to produce future specialist doctors, nurses and paramedics in this field, will do cutting edge research in our specialties and will work to create awareness regarding prevention of kidney, bladder and liver diseases. PKLI will operate under its totally independent board on highest moral and professional grounds. Its physical infrastructure is designed by international medical designers following the most modern hospital design principles carrying the latest and most modern equipment. It will be the most beautiful but simple and elegant hospital surrounded by gardens and waterfalls. Its human resource will consist of local and international experts, especially expatriates Pakistani doctors practicing in the USA and UK. Its sole purpose is to serve the people of Pakistan. We will serve without the discrimination of race, color, religion, cast, social and financial status. This is our institute. This is your institute. This is every Pakistani’s institute. Please own this project and become a part of it. Your ownership will help us excel and grow. May Allah SWT give us the strength and help us in our endeavors to help those, who are sick and can’t take care of themselves. |
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| Prof. Dr Saeed Akhter | ||
| President PKLI | ||
