FAQs

Q. How does PWA work?
A.  PWA is run only by the current students of Dow Medical College. New students who get admission in DMC can become PWA's volunteers and those who have completed their studies are not working volunteers but remain associated with it, as advisors.

Q. Does PWA has any affiliation with government?
A. No. PWA is a non political and non governmental organization, run solely by the students of Dow Medical College.

Q. Is PWA run on funds from the government?
A. No, PWA’s funds are generated entirely by the volunteers through different sources majorly ZAKAT collected annually, donations through campaigns and charity stalls held at various places etc.

Q. Is PWA under administration of Civil Hospital?
A. No, PWA is situated in Civil Hospital but it is not under its administration.

Q. Is PWA under administration of DMC?
A. No, PWA is an independent organization being run by the students of DMC.

Q. Does PWA have any other branch?
A. PWA is situated only within the premises of Civil Hospital Karachi; it does not have any branch.

Q. Why is PWA not expanded all over Karachi?
A.  DMC is located next to Civil Hospital Karachi and PWA is being run entirely by the current students of DMC, therefore, for better and effective management of the services it is not feasible to expand or open branches all over Karachi.

Q. Does PWA charge anything for the services it provides?
A. No. PWA does not charge a single rupee from anyone for its services. No exchange of money takes place in PWA's departments. However, people who can afford may donate monetary or in kind as they please.

Q. Are the services of PWA open to all?
A. Drug bank and Diagnostic laboratory cater only  the needs of poor patients of Civil Hospital Karachi, however, PWA's Blood Bank provides free of cost services to whole of Karachi. Follow-up departments have registered patients who are not admitted in Civil Hospital but come to PWA for regular check ups and medications.

Q. Are volunteers the only working force at PWA?
A. No. PWA also has paid employees working in different departments who are accountable to PWA administration.

Q. How can I join PWA?
A. If you are a student of Dow Medical College and do not have any political affiliation, you can volunteer for PWA.

Q. What are the timings for volunteers at PWA?
A. Volunteers may come at any time.

Q. How do volunteers take out time for PWA?
A. Every volunteer comes to PWA according to one's schedule. Students come during their break time or free periods etc since there are no strict regulations to come everyday for a particular time period.

Q.  Do volunteers need to take permission from the college to take part in this kind of voluntary activity?A. No, they do not have to take any permission. Rather, administration of the college/university supports and appreciates the efforts put in by students to run PWA.

Q. Does PWA charge any fee for being its volunteer?
A. There is no membership fee to be a volunteer of PWA; the only requirement is being a student of DMC and not having any political affiliation.

Q. Does volunteer get paid or get anything in return?
A. It is purely voluntary work, where students work selflessly to help the patients without getting any material benefit in return.


Q. Does working in PWA affect volunteers' studies?
A. No, studies of volunteers are not affected as they are always provided proper guidance regarding time management by the seniors. Volunteers are always asked to give first priority to their studies. In fact when volunteer's exams are near they are asked to focus on their studies only.

Q. Can students from other colleges/ universities volunteer for PWA?
A.  Since PWA is the organization run by the students of DMC, so only DMC students can work as volunteers. But other people/students can help us through their monetary or blood donations, zakat and also by spreading information about PWA.