Islamabad:-The Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) is a non-profit organization which was formed by a group of concerned citizens in the year 1990 with the aim to help alleviate the burden on Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) to ensure that quality healthcare is accessible to the thousands of patients who visit JPMC with hopes of getting the treatment they need. The Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) was formally registered under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860.Basic healthcare is a right that every citizen is entitled to and the Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) makes sure that they do not just provide healthcare but quality healthcare through introducing state-of-the-art modern medical equipment at JPMC. These modern equipment are extremely useful as they provide precise details that are otherwise not possible to get. They also provide an accurate diagnosis and treatment but unfortunately these modern facilities are considered to be a luxury. Diagnosis and treatment through these modern medical equipment are very expensive and therefore only those who are privileged can afford them. However, the Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) has worked relentlessly to ensure that these modern medical equipment are available to the deserving patients of lower income groups. The treatment and facilities which the Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) provides with the collaboration of the JPMC officials and the Government of Sindh are nothing short of that of a private institute and that too completely free of cost.
CyberKnife, Tomotherapy, PET-CT, 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Dexa Scanning Machine and Mammography Machine are some of the equipment that they have been introduced at JPMC.
Cancer in the leading cause of deaths in Pakistan, contributing to a total 8% of deaths each year, that mostly occur in the lower income groups and it is expected to rise further. Most low-income families are not able to afford the treatment they need due to the fact that modern facilities are not easily affordable for them. However, the Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) has completely revolutionized cancer treatment by introducing modern medical equipment such as CyberKnife and Tomotherapy which are available to all without any charges. This way, the Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) has made quality medical treatment readily available for lower income groups.
CyberKnife is a robotic treatment which is able to treat cancerous tumors through a painless procedure of precise targeted radiation. This modern equipment is able to move in such a way that helps minimize radiation to surrounding healthy tissues, which would otherwise be at risk if manually operated. It is considered to be a miraculous treatment for high risk cancer patients and has a very high success rate. The cost of one session per patient goes up to PKR 100,000 but JPMC has become the only hospital in the entire world providing free of cost cancer treatment through the 2 CyberKnifes installed with the help of the Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF).
The Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) has also inaugurated the multimillion dollar Tomotherapy (Radiaxact X9) machine for the treatment of cancer. It has a built CT scanner that is able to target tumors in a 360-degree circle. This procedure is extremely effective with stage 1 through stage 4 radiation-sensitive cancers and just a few sessions, results are evident.
One session can cost upto PKR 80,000 but at JPMC this specialized cancer treatment is provided free of cost with the help and support provided by the Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF).
PET-CT Positron Emission Tomography – Computed Tomography (PET-CT), uses radioactive materials along with a special camera to monitor organ and tissue functions at a cellular level. With the help of PET-CT scan, medical diagnosis can be made through greater precision by producing 3D views which conventional PET imaging scans lack. The PET-CT scanner is another revolutionary medical equipment that the Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) has introduced at JPMC which has helped detect diseases, particularly cancer, far more effectively. At any private institute, the cost of one session can go up to PKR 70,000, however, the Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) has ensured that this facility is available at JPMC completely free for those who are unable to otherwise afford it.
The Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) also increased the number of 1.5 Tesla Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines that provide very precise details of body parts through high resolution scanning. JPMC treats multiple patients’ every day, without any charges whatsoever, through this non-invasive radiation free equipment installed by the Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) which would otherwise cost up to PKR 20,000 at any other institute.
The Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) has also installed dual energy X-Ray absorptiometry machines at JPMC, known as the Dexa Scanning Machines, which are able to examine the bone health of women. This modern equipment is used to test the bone mass and density for detection of osteoporosis of deserving female patients. Osteoporosis is a condition that mostly affects women after menopause, however it may affect men and children as well. Women from low-income families might not even be aware of this problem and therefore with the inception of Dexa Scanning Machines at JPMC, the Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) has helped provide these scans free of cost which normally cost around PKR 5,000 at other facilities.
Moreover, the Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) has installed Mammographic Machines at JPMC for human breast examination and early detection of breast cancer. With the help of screening mammography, the risk of death due to breast cancer is reduced. This particular equipment is very useful when it comes to detecting different kinds of breast cancer, including invasive ductal and invasive lobular cancer. It also helps detect small tumors and this allows women with far more treatment options. One session per patient can cost up to PKR 5000, however, with the help and support provided by Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) this facility is provided free of any charge at JPMC.
With the inception of this modern, cutting-edge technology, the Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) has revolutionized healthcare services available to the masses. With the support of generous donors, the JPMC officials and the Government of Sindh, the Patients’ Aid Foundation (PAF) is able to serve their motto “Humanity Meets Healthcare” by making the best healthcare services available to all the deserving patients of Pakistan.