Facts and Figures

Policy Statement

"Needy patients will be supported without any discrimination for their treatment at AKUH”

In keeping with its mission, Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) endeavours to provide access to its medical services, to needy patients who may not, on account of financial difficulties, be able to afford normal Hospital charges.

More than 70 per cent of the over 500,000 patients who visit AKUH every year are from low and middle income households. Often they cannot bear the full cost of their medical treatment. In place since the Hospital was established, the Patient Welfare Programme financially assists needy patients, regardless of religion, gender, race, colour, creed or domicile. 

Amount of Welfare Assistance Provided from 1986 to 2007

During its first year, in 1986, the Patient Welfare Programme provided Rs 3.4 million in welfare assistance. Since then, the need has grown dramatically. So far, Rs 2 billion has been spent, benefiting over 300,000 needy inpatients and outpatients. One in every four patients admitted to the General Ward is a welfare-assisted patient.

Sources of Funds for Welfare Assistance

Patient Welfare Assistance is funded in several ways. Most importantly, through an endowment created specifically for this purpose. Other funding sources include:

• Annual giving: The University's many donors generously contribute to the fund, and their annual donations are disbursed to welfare patients through the fund.
• Hospital revenues: Part of the Hospital's revenues are contributed to the Welfare fund.
• Profit from sale of greeting cards: The Hospital designs, prints and sells its own greeting cards. The revenue from the sales is earmarked for the fund.
• Surplus from sales of Gift, Flower and Tuck shops: The profits from the volunteer run shops is contributed towards the Welfare fund.