Construction of Intensive Care Unit – Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (Karachi)
Sansaar Care provided financial support toward the construction of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as part of the development of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre in Karachi, Pakistan.
Recipient Organisation: Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre (SKMCH&RC)
Status of Activity: Opening planned for December 2026
1. Overview of Support Provided
Sansaar Care provided financial support toward the construction of an Intensive Care Unit (ICU) as part of the development of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre in Karachi, Pakistan.
The hospital project forms part of a wider healthcare initiative founded by Imran Khan to provide world-class cancer treatment facilities to patients regardless of their ability to pay.
Sansaar Care’s contribution supported the development of critical care facilities within the hospital, enabling the institution to expand its capacity to treat patients requiring specialised medical support.
This donation reflects Sansaar Care’s commitment to supporting projects that improve health outcomes for vulnerable children and families, particularly where access to advanced medical care may otherwise be limited.
2. Identified Need and Context
Cancer represents one of the most significant health challenges in Pakistan, with approximately 180,000 new cancer cases diagnosed each year and around 90,000 deaths annually.
Access to specialised cancer treatment remains limited for many families, particularly those who cannot afford private healthcare.
The Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre was established to address this gap by providing state-of-the-art cancer treatment and research facilities, with a core mission of delivering care to patients regardless of their financial circumstances.
The development of the Karachi hospital represents a major expansion of the organisation’s capacity to provide treatment services and meet the growing demand for cancer care across Pakistan.
Intensive Care Units play a critical role in supporting patients undergoing complex surgical procedures and advanced cancer treatments, making the development of ICU facilities an essential component of the hospital’s infrastructure.
3. Beneficiaries and Public Benefit
The beneficiaries of this project are cancer patients receiving treatment through the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital network.
The hospital network provides treatment to tens of thousands of patients each year, delivering a wide range of services including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery, diagnostic testing and inpatient care.
Public benefit is delivered through:
- improving access to specialised cancer treatment
- supporting critical care services for seriously ill patients
- expanding healthcare infrastructure in Pakistan
- enabling treatment for patients who cannot afford medical care
Since its establishment, the organisation has spent hundreds of millions of pounds delivering philanthropically funded treatment to patients in need, demonstrating the substantial public benefit of the initiative.
4. Support Delivered
Sansaar Care’s contribution supported the development of intensive care facilities within the new Karachi hospital.
The hospital project represents a major infrastructure development requiring significant investment in:
- hospital construction
- specialist medical equipment
- critical care facilities
- diagnostic and treatment technology
The Karachi hospital project requires an estimated £88 million in total funding, including construction and medical equipment.
By contributing toward the full construction costs of one of the ICU, Sansaar Care supported a key component of the hospital’s ability to provide life-saving treatment to patients requiring advanced medical care.
5. Outcomes and Impact
The development of the new hospital and ICU facilities significantly expands the capacity of the Shaukat Khanum healthcare network to provide cancer treatment services.
The organisation already delivers extensive treatment services across its facilities, including:
- hundreds of thousands of outpatient consultations
- tens of thousands of chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments
- thousands of surgical procedures annually.
The addition of the Karachi hospital will further strengthen the organisation’s ability to provide treatment and improve survival outcomes for cancer patients across Pakistan.
6. Risk, Safeguarding and Governance Considerations
The Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre is an established healthcare institution with strong governance and operational structures.
The organisation operates multiple hospitals and diagnostic centres and maintains international standards of medical practice and patient care.
Funds contributed toward the hospital development are managed within the organisation’s governance and financial control systems, ensuring that resources are used appropriately to support healthcare services.
7. Learning and Future Application
This case study demonstrates Sansaar Care’s commitment to supporting initiatives that improve healthcare outcomes for vulnerable populations.
Investing in healthcare infrastructure, particularly critical care facilities, can have a significant and lasting impact by enabling hospitals to provide life-saving treatment to patients who might otherwise lack access to advanced medical care.
The experience gained from supporting this project will inform Sansaar Care’s future involvement in healthcare initiatives aimed at improving medical access and patient outcomes.
Declaration
This case study is a true and accurate summary of charitable support provided by Sansaar Care toward the construction of an Intensive Care Unit within the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital & Research Centre development project in Karachi.
This document is prepared for governance, trustee reporting and Charity Commission regulatory evidence purposes.
