Aga Khan Hospitals are owned and managed by the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The AKDN is a group of development agencies with mandates that include education, health, and rural development. It was founded by His Highness the Aga Khan, the 49th hereditary Imam (spiritual leader) of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. The Aga Khan Hospitals are part of the broader network of institutions and initiatives operated by the AKDN, which operates in various countries around the world, primarily in Asia and Africa.
The Aga Khan is the title held by the spiritual leader of the Shia Ismaili Muslims. The current Aga Khan, is Shah Karim al-Hussaini, who succeeded his grandfather, Sultan Muhammad Shah Aga Khan III, in 1957.
The Aga Khan is the direct descendant of the Prophet Muhammad through his cousin and son-in-law, Ali, and his daughter, Fatimah. The Aga Khan not only holds a spiritual role but also plays a significant role in the social, cultural, and economic development of the Ismaili Muslim community and beyond through the institutions and agencies of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The AKDN operates in various fields such as healthcare, education, economic development, and cultural preservation in over 30 countries.
