Shaukat Khanum Hospital implements advanced patient safety measures in bid to save patients visiting the facility

SKMCH&RC dedicated to providing the best cancer care amidst the coronavirus pandemic

As the nation’s health workers grapple with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, hospitals are experiencing a drop in the number of patients seeking care for medical emergencies. Myriad myths and misconceptions about the Covid-19, the social stigmas associated with it, as well as fear of coming in contact with the virus itself, is driving numerous ailing people away from infirmaries. Doctors are not only concerned in regards to the patients they are no longer seeing, but also worry that some people are delaying necessary care that might expose them to the risk of serious long-term health issues. In these challenging times, one such remarkable institution, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre has executed significant myriad measures to avert the spread of virus transmission in the most proficient way possible.



When it comes to their expertise of being able to deal with infection control, Shaukat Khanum Hospital has an edge over most other hospitals because they are specially trained to look after critical and vulnerable patients regardless of the situation. Thus, since the emergence of the very first Covid-19 case in Pakistan, which was on February 26^th, Shaukat Khanum’s infection control team has been upfront in ensuring the best possible safety measures for their cancer patients, as well as the potential Covid-19 affectees.

Given the circumstances, patient safety is of utmost importance which is why, at Shaukat Khanum, the staff is instructed to stay up to date with the best ways to manage the pandemic situation while following all existing international guidelines rigorously. All the frontline superheroes working at the hospital are given special training on a daily basis, in accordance with the global guidelines, to deal with the ever evolving Covid-19 situation.



It is absolutely mandatory for all staff to wear proper PPE before entering the wards. No one can enter the hospital premises without a mask; patients as well as the hospital staff is to wear a mask at all times, as well as sanitise their hands from sanitizers available at multiple places within the hospital’s clinical vicinity. Since social distancing is fundamental, the hospital has taken innumerable measures to ensure it is followed strictly within the premises. Moreover, they have prohibited the entrance of any irrelevant or extra attendees with the patients. Besides, the hospital assures that other designated departments and OPD are uncrowded at all times, so that obligatory social distancing is maintained consistently.



In addition to this, the cleaning staff has been given special instructions to sweep off any potential germs or dirt with disinfectants, and they have been trained to follow extra precautionary cleaning measures during the pandemic to guarantee the safety of every patient. SKMCH&RC has not only ensured the functioning of all their departments and facilities flawlessly, but they have also managed to make sure that all counters at the OPD clinics, laboratories and pharmacies abide by the social distancing rule. In a similar manner, all clinical, medical as well as consultation facilities including radiation, radiology, nuclear medicine, chemotherapy, endoscopy are being conducted without any halt, but with extra care. Most importantly, every instrument, machine, surface area is cleaned and sanitised, whereas all the rooms are scrubbed thoroughly every day to further improve and ensure safe conditions.



All hospital facilities and technology are at par with international standards, including their food and cafeteria department. The hospital’s food service team has been given special instructions regarding the hygiene standards and healthiness of the food provided to the patients as well as at the cafeteria. Apart from guaranteeing nutritious and clean food, Shaukat Khanum have also extended their cafeteria space and marked distanced spaces for the visitors to ensure safe distancing, good ventilation and over-crowding.

The prestigious national institution has established a separate Covid-19 camp, an entirely distinctive clinical space for the suspected Covid-19 patients who are kept here in seclusion. They are screened, tested and treated by frontline heroes, specifically dedicated to serve the Covid-19 patients. In order to avoid the spread of this atrocious virus, the staff operating in the Covid19 camp does not carry out any duties in other wards. Furthermore, before entering the clinical area, each patient as well as the staff is first screened, on a daily basis. Once they clear the screening process, only then they are allowed to enter the clinical premises.



The hospital has implemented a number of timely strategies, in accordance to the international guidelines, to help minimise the pandemic risk particularly for their patients. Every day they try to reassess their safety measures and come up with better methodologies because for them, patient safety is the only thing that matters the most.

The staff at Shaukat Khanum Hospital is at the forefront in caring for its patients, while following all applicable guidelines, that ensures infection control and patient safety. Cancer care cannot be delayed, hence medical practitioners at Shaukat Khanum encourage all of the patients to come to the hospital for OPD visits, diagnostic tests or treatments. Please be confident that the staff at SKMCH is there to serve you, and to keep you safe, to the best of their ability. Each day, SKMCH&RC manages to reach new heights in serving humanity while battling on both fronts, cancer and coronavirus.

For further related inquiries and to book an appointment, visit here.