23/05/2026
A landmark step towards strengthening rheumatology care, education, and training in Pakistan.
Today, the Arthritis Care Foundation (ACF) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Hope Uplift Foundation (HUF), a respected charitable organization working in the fields of health, education, and social welfare.
The MoU was signed by Prof. Nighat Mir Ahmed (Chair, Arthritis Care Foundation), Prof. Ahmed Saeed (Co-Chair, Arthritis Care Foundation), and Ms. Lubna Shukoh (President, Hope Uplift Foundation).
This collaboration aims to support fellowship training programs in Rheumatology under the auspices of Arthritis Care Foundation at Central Park Medical College. Through this initiative, future rheumatology specialists will be trained to address the severe shortage of rheumatologists in Pakistan and improve the lives of millions suffering from arthritis, autoimmune, and rheumatic diseases.
This partnership reflects a shared vision of improving patient care, advancing medical education, strengthening training programs, and promoting research in rheumatology.
What makes this moment especially meaningful is that this journey began years ago. Nearly a decade back, Hope Uplift Foundation supported the training scholarship of a rheumatology fellow through Arthritis Care Foundation. That fellow, Dr. Bilal Azeem Butt, is now heading the Department of Rheumatology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital / Fatima Jinnah Medical University, serving thousands of patients while also training future specialists.
This is how sustainable healthcare systems are built — through vision, collaboration, and long-term investment in people.
Together, we hope to continue building a stronger future for rheumatology care in Pakistan.
