• Announces govt will bear financial cost for 100 liver transplants
• Lays foundation stone for new oncology unit
• Murad says Gambat Institute performed 500 liver transplants free of cost

KARACHI: Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Tuesday inaugurated a new outpatient department (OPD) complex at Dow Hospital, Ojha campus.

Accompanied by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and other officials, Mr Bhutto-Zardari inaugurated the OPD complex comprising four blocks, built at a cost of Rs500 million, and performed the groundbreaking ceremony of an oncology unit after planting a tree.

Speaking on the occasion, the PPP chairman extended congratulations and best wishes to the Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) and hospital staff for delivering quality liver transplant services in the city.

“We can strengthen our healthcare system and improve the delivery of healthcare by joining hands with well-trained human resources. The government has always made an effort to bring an improvement in the healthcare system for the benefit of the common man,” he said.

He also announced that the provincial government would bear the cost of 100 liver transplants being planned at the hospital.

Speaking on the occasion, CM Shah said his government firmly believed that affordable and high-quality healthcare was a fundamental privilege of every citizen.

“It’s not only ethically and socially imperative, but also a necessary ingredient for sustainable development of our economies and society,” he said, adding that it’s a privilege to stand before healthcare workers who had worked tirelessly to provide quality healthcare, especially during the pandemic.

About the challenges being faced by the healthcare system, Mr Shah said the foremost challenge was providing adequate health coverage and equal access to medical services for all.

“When citizens have to pay out of their pockets, they may delay or relinquish necessary treatments, risking their lives or increasing their vulnerability to chronic diseases requiring costly, long-term care,” he observed.

Congratulating the DUHS for launching liver transplant services for the people of Sindh, he said liver diseases were among the leading causes of death in the country and liver transplantation was often the only life-saving treatment option.

“Considering the social strata, many patients cannot afford liver transplants due to financial constraints and, eventually, pass away,” he deplored and went on to say the allocation of funds by his government had paved the way for the development of liver transplant programmes in the province.

“The liver transplant unit at Dow University of Health Sciences has successfully performed 75 procedures with the financial support of the Sindh government. In future, more resources and funds will be capitalized to sustain the liver transplant programme for the betterment of humanity,” he said.

The chief minister recalled that the Gambat Institute of Health Sciences had successfully performed 500 liver transplants free of cost. He described it as a big success of his government’s services in healthcare.

CM Shah urged the private sector and philanthropists to come forward to donate for liver transplantation as well as to own post-transplant support for a patient.

Dr Saad Khalid Niaz, Dr Jahanzeb Haider and DUHS Vice Chancellor Prof Saeed Qureshi also spoke.

Labour Minister Saeed Ghani, parliamentary secretary Qasim Soomro, and health secretary Zulfiqar Shah were also in attendance.

Published in Dawn, November 16th, 2022