Member since 2023

Arthritis Care Foundation (ACF) is a registered trust came into inception in 2010 for the welfare of patients with rheumatic diseases in Pakistan. ACF provides free consultations, subsidized/free medications (including biologics), diagnostics support, physiotherapy and rehabilitation to indigent or less privileged arthritis patients. Apart from patient care, supporting rheumatology fellowship training programs and arranging awareness/educational seminars are main goals of the foundation.

VISION

Every patient with arthritis should have access to standard of care to prevent disability & premature death

MISSION
To establish, encourage, assist and support Medical, Social Welfare and Educational activities, pertaining to deserving or under privileged patients, both adult and children with arthritis and other related rheumatic diseases, regardless of their gender, religion, caste, or colour, and without prejudice to the generality of the aforesaid.

OBJECTIVES

• To assist non-paying patients with diagnostic tests as well as with treatment including consultations, laboratory test, radiology, medicines and latest Biologic agents
• To provide latest treatments, which are highly effective but expensive e. g. Biologic therapies
• To establish an endowment fund for providing scholarships to trainees in Rheumatology, where by addressing the critical shortage of qualified rheumatologists in the country
• To facilitate joint replacement for deserving arthritic patients, both children and adults
  To establish a comprehensive physician, patient and public awareness program, through seminars and disease information booklets
• To establish patient support groups
• To establish the first Institute of Rheumatic Diseases in Pakistan: for patient care, training and research; and collaborate with other organisations for this purpose.

Arthritis Care Foundation (ACF) became a registered trust in 2010 for the welfare of patients with rheumatic diseases in Pakistan. It is the only non-for-profit organisation in Pakistan, striving to provide free and subsidised treatment to less privileged patients from all walks of life. In 2010, three founding members started volunteer services. As of 

today, eight volunteer rheumatologists and twelve doctors on ACF’s payroll provide services at ACF Centre and five collaborative projects. 

Patients’ Care: ACF provides medications (including biologics), diagnostic support and joint replacements for indigent arthritis patients. Apart from patient care, supporting rheumatology fellowship training programmes and arranging awareness seminars are our main objectives. Since inception, PKR 382 million (USD 2.3 million) has been spent on providing free and subsidised treatment to thousands of arthritis patients. 

Each year ACF spends approximately PKR 17,500,000 (USD 61,000) and PKR 20,000,000 (USD 72,500) on provision of biologics and JAK-inhibitor drugs respectively; a significant portion of which is being used for treatment of SpA patients and SLE patients.

In a less developed country like Pakistan, the cost of treating rheumatic diseases is very high, there is little support from the public sector and no health insurance facilities. The Sehat Sahulat Card scheme, recently launched by the government, covers outpatient treatment but does not support full treatment, which leads to many patients suffering poor outcomes and delayed diagnostics. 

Teaching and Training: Despite international standards recommending at least 2500 rheumatologists for a population of more than 240 million, Pakistan only has 125 qualified registered rheumatologists. To meet the dire need of specialists, ACF started scholarship support for teaching and training programmes in collaboration with various teaching institutions. 

So far 31 rheumatologists have been trained by the ACF Faculty, covering more than 50% of total practising rheumatologists in Punjab province of 120 million. Out of these, 21 specialists have fully or partially been trained through the ACF scholarship programme. ACF funded rheumatologists are not only working in the public and private sector of Pakistan but they are also serving abroad (UK and Middle East). So far around PKR 42 million (USD 2.39 million) has been spent on a scholarship programme for fellows undergoing training. 

Education and Research Activities: ACF is consolidating its research endeavours in collaboration with renowned national and international teaching and research institutions. Partnering with the Fatima Jinnah Medical University (FJMU) and National Institute of Health (NIH) USA, ACF is conducting research involving the genetics of lupus in patients and their families. ACF faculty recently conducted research on prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders through a grant by WHO. The ACF team also organised a nine months educational programme for family physicians, covering rigorous modules, with the help of ILAR funding. ACF has set up a support group for ankylosing spondylitis and lupus patients (pictured). Expert rheumatologists and psychologists provided their expert opinions to all registered patients and families in the support group. 

Advocacy programmes: ACF team has been actively involved in raising awareness among the general public, physicians and medical students through educational seminars, walks, interviews and public relationship activities. This is part of the ACF commitment towards public awareness about these diseases.