As we all know, the greatest wealth is our health. Sound health is central to human happiness and welfare. It also contributes to financial growth, as healthy people live longer, exhibit progressive brilliance and productivity for their country. Pakistan, a country distressed by utmost poverty and ignored healthcare systems, is dealing with an alarming burden of kidney and liver sicknesses. The range includes infirmities that cause both acute and chronic kidney and liver diseases including Hepatitis, and kidney diseases that develop in the setting of pre-existing liver disease.
There are approximately 10 million patients with Hepatitis C and more than 5 million with Hepatitis B from which approximately 70% live in the province of Punjab. This means 1 in every 12 Pakistanis is stricken with this disease. The threat of Hepatitis B and C has turned into an epidemic in the country. Approximately 40% of the diseases in Pakistan are related to kidney, liver and bladder problems, while only a handful of hospitals are specialized enough to deal with this challenge.
GoP has sponsored hospital construction and vowed to finance the operations of PKLI&RC for the first three years
Under these circumstances, a hospital which specifically deals with kidney and liver was much needed. Therefore, PKLI&RC was formed through an Act of Parliament, “Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute Act 2014”, which got approved by the Punjab Assembly. PKLI&RC functions under an autonomous board consisting of professionals with the highest professional integrity. Moreover, PKLI&RC is promoting research culture by gathering national and international scientists and clinicians on one platform for innovative research. All research works carried out at the liver and kidney institute are reviewed by Institutional Review Board. PKLI&RC has been working in close coordination with Center of Excellence in Molecular Biology (CEMB) University of the Punjab, a prestigious research center of the country, on a verity of scientific topics.
The hospital construction is divided into different phases. PKLI&RC has inaugurated the first phase on December 25, 2017. It is situated in the Lahore Knowledge Park, near DHA Phase 6, Lahore. PKLI&RC hospital has 60-acre land area transferred by GoP Apart from having the largest transplantation center in the country, hospital complex will comprise of a Nursing school, dormitories for patient’s relatives, apartments for doctors and other staff in addition to PKLI bazaar, energy center, nursery and a mosque. Total construction cost of the Hospital including medical equipment is Rs. 20 billion. GoP has sponsored hospital construction and committed to finance the operations of PKLI&RC for the first 3 years.