ACF CHARITY CLINIC & DISPENSARY (NEW MUSLIM TOWN LAHORE)
- A dedicated charity clinic is located at New Muslim Town, Lahore.
- Currently, clinics are conducted six days a week by qualified rheumatologists, including Dr. Saira Khan, Dr. Rafaqat Hameed, and Dr. Muhammad Faiq.
- Deserving patients not only receive free or subsidized consultations but also benefit from free medications through the ACF dispensary, as well as diagnostic support.
- Every year, approximately PKR 10 million worth of medications are disbursed to deserving patients through the ACF dispensary.
- One designated Medical Officer, on ACF remuneration, is permanently available six days a week to facilitate patients.
- Patients are also provided with a designated Physiotherapist, on ACF remuneration, six days a week.
Medical
ACF collaborative clinics
In order to reach out more, ACF also collaborates with and supports various projects as under:
ACF CHARITY CLINICS AT AFJOG HOUSE
Free weekly rheumatology clinics have been operating since 1998, initially at Akhtar Mubarik Referral Centre (AMRC), Lahore, and later relocated to AFJOG House. This long-standing collaboration represents one of ACF’s earliest and most sustainable service delivery partnerships. AFJOG plays a critical role by providing clinic space, ancillary staff, diagnostic services, and physiotherapy facilities free of cost, substantially reducing the operational and financial burden on patients.
Under this arrangement, ACF has established and continues to maintain its own formulary at the collaborative centre, ensuring uninterrupted access to essential medications for underprivileged arthritis patients. ACF fully funds the remuneration of a qualified consultant, a senior Medical Officer and a dispensary assistant and provides free rheumatology consultations once a week.
Key Highlights
- Clinic space, diagnostics, physiotherapy, and ancillary support provided by AFJOG at no cost
- ACF-established independent formulary at the collaborative centre
- PKR 15.6 million+ worth of medications provided to date
- PKR 2.19 million worth of medicines disbursed in FY 2024–25
INSTITUTE OF RHEUMATIC DISEASES AT CENTRAL PARK MEDICAL TEACHING HOSPITAL
In 2021, through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Arthritis Care Foundation (ACF) and the Health & Education Foundation, ACF partnered with Central Park Teaching Hospital & Medical College (CPTH&MC) to establish a state-of-the-art Department of Rheumatology. This initiative marked a major milestone in expanding specialized rheumatology services within an academic tertiary care setting. The Department is headed by Prof. Muhammad Ahmed Saeed.
ACF played a pivotal role in the establishment and ongoing strengthening of the Department by supporting infrastructure development and ensuring access to advanced treatment modalities. The Foundation continues to support indigent patients through the provision of essential medications, including high-cost biologics, along with diagnostic facilitation. Under its Faculty Support Program, ACF funds 50% of the departmental faculty, including the full remuneration of an Assistant Professor of Rheumatology, and a Senior Registrar. Through its Scholarship Program, ACF is currently funding two FCPS trainee fellows, strengthening the national pipeline of trained rheumatologists.
During the financial year July 2024 to June 2025, ACF spent over PKR 10 million on medications, biologics, faculty support, and trainee scholarships at CPTH&MC. At present, approximately PKR 550,000 per month is being funded by ACF for human resource support of the Rheumatology Department through the Health & Education Foundation.
ACF in collaboration with (CPTH&MC)
7 Days Emergency Services
Biologics Infusion Centre
ACF & BEHBUD COLLABORATIVE RHEUMATOLOGY CLINIC
The ACF–BEHBUD collaboration, initiated in 2006, further expanded access to specialized rheumatology services for low-income communities in Lahore. Under this partnership, ACF funds a senior Medical Officer who provides free consultations once a week, while also ensuring the participation of a senior consultant in BEHBUD’s monthly health project meetings to maintain clinical oversight and coordination.
ACF bears the cost of essential medications for rheumatology patients treated at the clinic, while BEHBUD supports only service delivery by providing clinic space, ancillary staff, diagnostic facilities, and physiotherapy services at subsidized rates.
Key Highlights
- PKR 20.6 million spent to date on medications and diagnostics
- PKR 1.42 million worth of medicines sponsored in FY 2024–25
ACF COLLABORATION WITH NATIONAL HOSPITAL & MEDICAL CENTRE
Arthritis Care Foundation has collaborated with Department of Rheumatology, National Hospital & Medical Centre (NH&MC) in strengthening of fellowship program and facilitation of in-patients treatment of white collar patients through negotiated subsidized rates. During the period in discussion, ACF spent Rs 405,667/- on in-patients treatment of ACF referred patients at NH&MC. ACF is also funding remuneration of a Senior Registrar, who is providing patient care at the Rheumatology Department and also actively involves in teaching & training.
Since 2019, seven rheumatologists, funded by ACF, have completed their fellowship training from the Department of Rheumatology, National Hospital & Medical Centre, Lahore; including a Rheumatologist from Baluchistan. He is second of only two rheumatologists providing services in Baluchistan. The first rheumatology service set up in Quetta is also by an ACF scholarship recipient. Currently four trainee fellows are being fully or partially funded by ACF at Department of Rheumatology, National Hospital & Medical Centre Lahore.
ACF COLLABORATION WITH PSIM FOUNDATION (AAP KA CLINIC)
ACF has also collaborated with PSIM Foundation; an initiative of Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine (PSIM), to establish a Rheumatology clinic at ‘AAP KA CLINIC’ project of PSIM Foundation near Ganga Ram Hospital Lahore; a prime area in central Lahore. ACF funded qualified rheumatologist is providing clinical services at ‘AAP KA CLINIC’ once a week. ACF funded the remuneration of the consultant during the year: PKR 750,000, who facilitated over 1100 underprivileged patients at the center.
