THE fact that Pakistan’s public healthcare infrastructure is generally of poor quality and dreadfully overloaded throws into even greater relief the success stories that do exist. The first example that will spring to many minds in this regard is that of the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, which a group committed professionals has turned into a world-class facility. Another such story is that of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Karachi. What was originally a small heart clinic in the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre has since 1979 functioned as a large-scale, specialist, autonomous public-sector institution, with the current governing body coming under the Sindh administration. Earlier this week, it made history when a female heart patient was successfully given a Left Ventricular Assist Device, or LVAD, implant for the first time in Pakistan. On Thursday, this achievement was followed up by a second surgery carried out by Dr Pervaiz Chaudhry. The doctor, his team and the hospital deserve felicitations on their dedication, particularly given the fact that the procedure, which otherwise costs nearly Rs11m, has been carried out free of charge.

It is hoped that such successes continue to be followed up, by not just the NICVD but other institutions as well. The latter would do well to take a leaf out of the heart facility’s efforts regarding preventative healthcare. It has been for some time now that the institute has been operating mobile chest pain units in Karachi and other parts of Sindh. These have proved ideal, free-of-cost and approachable services for patients whose heart problems would otherwise have gone undiagnosed or been checked out at great cost. As recently as February, the NICVD was directed by its board of governors to induct dozens more such vans across the province. Over the years, thousands of patients have been given assistance at such units. Without doubt, these interventions are the way forward. The public healthcare sector in the country might be in less of a shambles were a few far-sighted decisions to be taken.

Published in Dawn, July 14th, 2018