In December 1984, the late Graham Layton and Zaka Rahmatulla founded and established the Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust (LRBT). They envisioned an organization which would grow to provide free eye treatment to the poor & underprivileged citizens across Pakistan so that no Pakistani would go blind because he/she could not afford the treatment.
Since its inception 35 years ago LRBT, through its 19 hospitals and 59 Clinics, has treated over 40 million patients and performed over 3.8 million major and minor eye surgeries.
They also left behind 4 founding principles which we call ‘The Spirit of LRBT’ guiding our activities and permeates everything that we do:
- All treatment at LRBT is totally free so that no man, woman or child becomes blind because he/she cannot afford the treatment.
- Treatment is appropriate and state-of-the-art because charity should not mean second rate.
- Treatment is no discrimination due to gender, caste, ethnicity, language, religion or sect.
- Patients are treated with compassion and dignity.
Restoring sight & transforming lives
LRBT is transforming lives by restoring sight. Due to the efficiency of this system, the vast majority of patients admitted to an LRBT facility are seen, diagnosed and treated the same day. LRBT has achievable targets that provide a significant impact on the life of its patients within days. The sole focus of the hospitals is treating curable eye diseases.
Setting standards
LRBT hospitals and medical staff have an internationally renowned reputation for quality of service and impact on communities. The equipment used in the hospitals is internationally recognized as state-of-the-art, reflecting the determination of the founders to provide first-class treatment to all. As the trained medical staff move from LRBT to other medical institutions and as more patients visit LRBT facilities, pressure grows across the country to raise the standards of hospitals and medical care to match LRBT’s example.
Open to everyone
The same level of care and attention is available to all patients, rich and poor, young and old, men, women and children on a first come first serve basis. There is no discrimination on grounds of religion, gender, class or ethnicity – free diagnosis and treatment is available for all. Women and minorities form part of the staff at LRBT. Staff also has equal access to job opportunities and career advancement.