Imran Khan promises two new cancer hospitals

Dubai Imran Khan has said he will build two new cancer hospitals as well as double the capacity of the existing one in Lahore.

The cricketer-turned-politician made the announcement at a fundraising dinner at Atlantis on the Palm Jumeirah in aid of the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust, which runs the Lahore hospital.

"The move comes because of increasing demand as we are the only cancer hospital in the world which treats 75 per cent of the cancer patients free of cost without any government subsidy," Khan said.

Ground has been broken for a new cancer hospital in Peshawar and another in Karachi is at the planning stage, according to Khan.

"Shaukat Khanum Memorial Trust Cancer Hospital in Lahore receives an average of 100 cancer patients every day while we can admit only 14 because the hospital is full," he said.

Khan said the hospital's yearly deficit was 2 billion Pakistani rupees (Dh81 million), met through fund-raisers.

"Overseas Pakistanis... contribute 40 per cent of the funds needed to run the hospital," Khan said.

More than Dh2 million was collected at the fund-raiser towards a new $1 million (Dh3.67 million) MRI machine.

"The more privileged you are, the more responsible you have to towards the needy," Khan said.