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{{Infobox hospital
| name = St. Joseph's Hospice
| org/group =
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| location = Rawalpindi
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| country = Pakistan
| healthcare = Public
| funding = Rs. 1.5 million per month (US$ 15,000)<ref name="AP 2014">{{cite web | author=AP | title=Hospital of last resort in Pakistan faces closure | website=DAWN.COM | date=2014-02-24 | url=http://www.dawn.com/news/1089150 | access-date=2020-12-05}}</ref>
| type =
| religious_affiliation = Catholic Diocese of Islamabad-Rawalpindi
| affiliation = Islamabad Medical and Dental College
| patron = Sister Margaret Walsh
| network =
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| emergency =
| beds = 80<ref name="Yasin 2017"/>
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| constructed =1964
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}}

'''St. Joseph's Hospice''' ([[Rawalpindi]]) is a health care facility run by the [[Franciscan Sisters of Mary]], open to patients from all walks of life.<ref name=asia>[http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Rawalpindi’s-St-Joseph-Hospice,-a-centre-of-excellence-for-Christians-and-Muslims-22926.html AsiaNews, 10/17/2011]</ref>

==Founder==
[[Francis O'Leary]] was a Catholic Priest and missionary in Rawalpindi. In 1962, while attending to a sick woman in a mud hut, O'Leary realized the need for a hospice. In 1964, he opened the first hospice in Rawalpindi. After receiving advice from [[Mother Teresa]], he obtained loans and donations to establish hospices in Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Honduras, Guatemala and England.<ref>Wikipedia contributors. Francis O'Leary. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 2011. Accessed 28 Oct. 2011</ref> It is registered as a non-profit organisation under the Pakistan Donor Welfare Agencies Ordinance.<ref name="Yasin 2017">{{cite web | last=Yasin | first=Aamir | title=St Joseph Hospice: home to those with life-limiting illnesses | website=DAWN.COM | date=2017-08-13 | url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1351311 | access-date=2020-12-05}}</ref>

==Facilities==

The hospice has been run for the past 30 years by the Franciscan Sisters. With 60 beds, it receives up to 300 patients a day. The staff includes 50 Pakistani nurses, aides, volunteers, doctors, and ward helpers.<ref name=asia /> In 2009 Sister Mairead Walsh, a nun from Dublin, ran the hospice.<ref name=nat>[http://www.thenational.ae/news/worldwide/south-asia/pakistans-outcasts-find-shelter-in-hospice The National, Jun 9, 2009]</ref> The hospice has three separate wards for men, women and children within its two-storeyed structure built of concrete and stone.<ref name="The Express Tribune 2014">{{cite web | title=St Joseph’s Hospice: Tottering on horns of uncertainty | website=The Express Tribune | date=2014-03-07 | url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/679836/st-josephs-hospice-tottering-on-horns-of-uncertainty | access-date=2020-12-05}}</ref> The building was funded by a German Catholic organisation, MISEREOR and built on church land.<ref name="Yasin 2017"/>

The hospice treats patients with chronic illnesses and disabilities, tuberculosis, meningitis, polio and typhoid fever, etc. Children with congenital deformities and malnutrition are often abandoned to the hospice.<ref name=asia />

90 per cent of its outpatients and 60 per cent of its in-patients are Muslim.<ref name=nat />

St Joseph's has a well functioning laboratory, provides physiotherapy treatment and has its own pharmacy. All medical services are free of charge.<ref name=asia />

The Pakistani government officially recognised this service to the community when in 2006, St Joseph's received the Award of Excellence from President [[Pervez Musharraf]].<ref name=asia />

The hospice is now a teaching facility attached to the [[Islamabad Medical and Dental College]].<ref>Wikipedia contributors. "Islamabad Medical and Dental College." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 2011. Accessed 28 Oct. 2011</ref>

In November 2013 the Hospice came close to closing when it had only enough in the bank to run for 5 months.<ref name="Behn 2013">{{cite web | last=Behn | first=Sharon | title=Pakistan's Christian Hospice to Close After 50 Years | website=Voice of America | date=2013-11-29 | url=https://www.voanews.com/east-asia-pacific/pakistans-christian-hospice-close-after-50-years | access-date=2020-12-05}}</ref>

In 2014 the Hospice celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding.<ref name="Salem-News.Com 2020">{{cite web | title=Pakistan Hospice Center Celebrates 50 Years While Struggling to Survive | website=Salem-News.Com | date=2020-12-05 | url=http://www.salem-news.com/articles/may072014/st-josephs.php | access-date=2020-12-06}}</ref> The Administrator at the time was Sister Margaret Walsh MFF.<ref>[https://www.columban.org.au/assets/files/enews/australian-health-delegation-takes-expertise-to-pakistan-pages-40-to-42.pdf Catholic Health Australia, Autumn 2014]</ref>

Also in 2014, a fundraiser was organised by the Nomad Centre and Gallery on March 7, in support of the Hospice which is struggling financially. The Hospice charges as little as Rs. 20 per patient, but this too is waived if the patient cannot afford to pay. This user pay system has not been enough to fund its work.<ref name=Tribune>{{cite web | title=Fundraiser set to foster hope, funds for hospice | website=The Express Tribune | date=2014-01-17 | url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/660096/fundraiser-set-to-foster-hope-funds-for-hospice | access-date=2020-12-05}}</ref>

==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:St Joseph's Hospice, Rawalpindi}}
[[Category:Catholic Church in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Rawalpindi District]]
[[Category:Medical and health organisations based in Pakistan]]
[[Category:Hospices]]
[[Category:Hospitals in Rawalpindi]]
[[Category:Catholic hospitals]]
[[Category:1964 establishments in Pakistan]]

St. Joseph's Hospice, Rawalpindi - Revision history

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