| Q. |
What does the word “Shifa” mean? |
| A. |
"Shifa" is an Arabic word, literally meaning "absolute cure". |
| Q. |
What was the idea behind establishing Shifa Foundation (SF) and what are the goals? |
| A. |
The idea behind SF was to improve the health standards of the nation. The goal of a prosperous Pakistan, we believe, can only be achieved by a healthy and educated nation. We also believe in indiscriminate availability of healthcare opportunities to every Pakistani in time of need. Our vision is to create a "healthy Pakistan". The goals of Shifa are twofold: patients’ welfare and quality health education. In 1991, the founding fathers of Shifa International Hospital visualized bridging the huge gap between the mounting requirements for development of a healthy and progressive society and extremely inadequate facilities. The thought culminated in the establishment of SF. They initiated an integrated program to promote quality education and training and provide state-of-the-art, yet affordable or free, depending upon the case, healthcare services to needy patients.
|
| Q. |
What are the long term goals of SF? |
| A. |
To lead the nation in the healthcare sector and set quality standards in health education and healthcare delivery.
|
| Q. |
What are the accomplishments of SF? |
| A. |
- SF started with a small OPD facility in 2000 that offered basic medical and surgical services to deserving patients. To date it offers services in all specialties and sub-specialties to more than 200 patients a day.
- To complement the OPD facility,
the IPD facility started providing daily medical
services to 70 patients in May 2001.
- To accommodate the growing
needs, a new spacious OPD was opened with additional
waiting areas, treatment rooms and facility for
different procedures.
- More than 90,000 non-affording
patients were given necessary treatment in 2004.
- The second class of Shifa
College of Medicine has already graduated.
- The Nursing School is in full
operation with single-point objective of imparting
quality education at a subsidized cost.
- Model curricula with special
emphasis on character building and inculcating
ethical and moral values have been developed for
each college.
- Continuous training to physicians
and medical staff through workshops and seminars
is a permanent feature.
- Provided leadership and organizational
support to government and civil society organizations
for maximum healthcare delivery.
|
| Q. |
What type of organization is SF? |
| A. |
SF is
a Not-For-Profit, Non-Government Organization, registered
with the Government of Pakistan vide Registration
No. 2(36)/CIT(C /02-03/J.Br./2182 dated November 23,
1992.
|
| Q. |
Who owns the foundation and its funds? |
| A. |
The foundation is
run and governed by a duly constituted Board of Governors
(BoG) which has 7 members. The funds are owned by
the foundation as a body and the budget is passed
by the Board of Governors. The accounts are regularly
audited by a Chartered Accountant Firm, M/s Riaz Ahmad
& Co., Islamabad.
|
| Q. |
Who is involved in its decision making? |
| A. |
The BoG is responsible
for all policy decisions. Day to day matters are decided
by the appropriate authorities and committees, e.g.
Shifa Welfare Council Committee and Shifa Education
Council Committee.
|
| Q. |
What are the functions of Shifa Welfare Council (SWC)? |
| A. |
Primarily, SWC is
responsible for the patients’ welfare. It also
functions for fund-raising and producing and disseminating
literature. On the recommendation of the SWC different
activities and projects are implemented.
|
| Q. |
What is the function of Shifa Educational Council (SEC)? |
| A. |
The function of SEC
is to plan new health education facilities and ensure
quality health education in the existing colleges.
|
| Q. |
What healthcare services are available at SF Clinics? |
| A. |
SF clinics offer
state-of-the-art healthcare facilities ranging from
diagnostic facilities with essential laboratory tests
to very specialized radiology and laboratory procedures
and treatment.
|
| Q. |
What is meant by affordable treatment? |
| A. |
A registration fee
of Rs. 20 is charged according to the paying capacity
of individual patients. Essential tests are free of
costs and specialized tests are subsidized by the
Foundation. Patients who cannot afford the specialized
test are offered further concession or free depending
on the paying capacity of an individual.
|
| Q. |
What types of services are available for deserving patients? |
| A. |
All the facilities
mentioned in Q. 11 are available to deserving patients
that includes from major surgeries such as, open heart
and transplant surgeries depending on available resources
to minor aches and pains. Our commitment is create
"Sehatmand Pakistan".
|
| Q. |
Does SF help other social organizations involved in similar projects? |
| A. |
Definitely YES! SF
is open to work with like-minded organizations. We
also developed joint ventures and provide assistance
in katchi abadies (slums) especially in raising the
health indicators. Our doctors make a weekly visit
to seven slums and hospital in the city and provide
medical assistance to the dwellers of the deprived
areas.
|
| Q. |
What is the relationship between Society for International HELP (Health, Education and Literacy Programme) in USA and SF? |
| A. |
Society for International
HELP is an independent organization registered in
USA that has the same objectives at an international
level as SF has in Pakistan. Society for International
HELP is cooperating with SF by all means to achieve
its goals in Pakistan.
|
| Q. |
What is the relationship between the Shifa International Hospital and SF? |
| A. |
The
two organizations have their own distinct identities.
Shifa International Hospital is a public limited company
while SF is a health charity. However, SF gets a sizeable
share of donations, in terms of money and time, from
the consultants of SIH.
|
| Q. |
How can SF survive any future financial constraints that can undermine the welfare work? |
| A. |
Having
an understanding of this potentially lethal situation
for welfare organizations from day one, an Endowment
Fund has been established consisting of 10 percent
of all donations.
|
| Q. |
What are the administrative costs/running expenses of SF (percentage of fund collection)? |
| A. |
All
of the administrative expenses of SF are met from
the profit of the Endowment Fund established in the
beginning of the Foundation. Our administrative cost
percentage to the funds collectioned is ZERO.
|
| Q. |
Where do the funds come from? |
| A. |
Mainly the funds
come from domestic and international contributions,
mostly from Pakistanis living abroad.
|
| Q. |
How much money is needed to treat a deserving patient? |
| A. |
It varies from minor
to major treatments. The brochures
provide details for different treatments and other
projects such as equipment, pharmacy or infrastructure.
|
| Q. |
Can a person or family donate a ward or a bed for a specific treatment of his / her selection? |
| A. |
Yes! We encourage
and accept such donations and would gladly put a name
plaque of your loved one on such a ward, equipment,
bed etc.
|
| Q. |
How can I be sure that the funds I donate will be spent for deserving patients? |
| A. |
Shifa Foundation
provides assurance for the utilization of all donations
strictly as per donor's instructions. An audit report
can be provided, if desired.
|
| Q. |
Where should I send my contributions and are they tax deductible? |
| A. |
You can send your donations including ZAKAT & SADAQAAT to:
SHIFA FOUNDATION
Sector : H-8/4, Islamabad - Pakistan
Tel: 92 51 4443 849
Fax: 92 51 4446 879
Your donations are tax-deductible vide Govt. of Pakistan letter number 2(36)/CIT(C)/02-02/J.Br./2182
OR
SOCIETY FOR INTERNATIONAL HELP
252-07, 58 Ave., Little Neck, NY 11362
Tel: (718) 279 0336, (718) 462 9691
Fax : (718) 856 7639
(Your Donations are tax deductible under the Federal Tax ID no 36-386-0838)
|
| Q. |
Are there any other projects of SF that I should know about? |
| A. |
Yes, there are many
projects that all deal with healthcare, such as developing
new facilities, equipment, scholarships for students,
treatment needs of patients, etc. Please see our different
brochures on the Publications page,
which give specific information on different projects.
SF updates the new projects on the website from time
to time.
|
| Q. |
How can I participate and contribute in different projects of SF? |
| A. |
We would welcome
your participation in SF projects in the area of your
interest. We would appreciate if you could identify
any of the areas (supplies, treatment, pharmacy, monetary,
infrastructure contribution, equipment, etc,) which
you can offer by filling the Participation Form.
|
| Q. |
Why should I choose SF over other health charities? |
| A. |
Because:
- We have the necessary comprehension
that healthcare delivery to every individual without
discrimination of race, sex, color or religion
is must for a prosperous Pakistan.
- We are committed to elevating
health status of the nation and we have pragmatic
programs for the same.
- We house the expertise and
intellectual depth that is imperative for carrying
out this mission.
- We are integrating healthcare
services and quality health education with pronounced
orientation for character building and ethical
practice – our lost heritage.
- And last but not least, SF
does not belong to an individual, a family, or
some organization. It is a body of philanthropists
who want to bring a health revolution and are
potentially capable of doing that.
|
|
| Q. |
What is in this work for me? |
| A. |
The satisfaction
that you are supporting a great cause especially to
develop your own nation and a hope for greater reward
in the Hereafter by Allah SWT.
|
