KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association, civil society and representatives of trade unions on Tuesday lauded management of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) led by Prof Dr Nadeem Qamar for providing state-of-the-art cardiovascular services to the people of Pakistan and termed the hospital a rare healthcare facility in the world, which offered specialised services to heart patients for free.

Addressing a joint press conference at the Karachi Press Club, civil society leaders and representatives of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP), Pakistan Institute of Labour Education and Research (Piler), Democratic Workers Federation of State Bank of Pakistan, NOW Communities, Tahreek-i-Niswan, Aurat Foundation, Workers Education and Research Organisation and others appreciated the services of NICVD and its executive director Dr Nadeem Qamar for providing “best services” to thousands of patients across Sindh and many others who came from other provinces.

The press conference was addressed by former principal of the Dow Medical College Prof Dr Tipu Sultan, president of PMA Karachi Dr Khalil Mukaddam, Dr Pir Manzoor Ali of PMA Sindh, civil society Mir Zulfiqar Ali, Karamat Ali (Piler) and trade unions representative Nasir Mansoor.

They said the statistics itself spoke of the performance of the facility.

A record number of 17,470 primary angioplasties at all nine NICVD centres in Sindh were performed during the period between February 2015 and May 2018, making the NICVD the worlds’ largest primary percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) centre.

Moreover, the Heart Failure Programme has been established at the NICVD to benefit patients with advanced and end-stage heart failure along with the facility of left ventricular assist device (mechanical heart) implantation.

Even the implants of Life Saving Devices (ICD & CRT P/D), that range between Rs750,000 Rs2.5 million is now being done free of cost.

They said that the NICVD in recent years had established fully equipped eight NICVD satellite centres in different parts of Sindh, which were providing free of cost primary PCI, 24 hours emergency and adult & paediatric cardiology services.

Facilities of free open heart surgery are also available at the NICVD Sukkur, and Karachi. The satellite centres are located at Larkana, Tando Muhammad Khan, Hyderabad, Sehwan, Sukkur, Nawabshah, Mithi and Khairpur.

With these centres, entire province is covered where a patient can reach within 90 minutes from anywhere.

The NICVD has also set up seven chest pain units at main intersections of Karachi, which are providing emergency services to patients, who cannot reach to the main NICVD hospital due to traffic congestion or long distances.

These easy reach units are located at under the Nipa flyover; under Gulbai flyover; under Malir Halt flyover; under KPT flyover, Qayyumabad Chowrangi; under Nagan Chowrangi Flyover; near I. I. Chundrigar Road and at Lyari General Hospital.

A doctor, a nurse and required medical equipment and medicines are available at these units and in case of serious condition of a patient an ambulance is available to shift patient to the main NICVD.

They said that the data provided by the NICVD to public was impressive.

During last one year over 56,731 patients visited the chest pain units, out of which 2,986 patients were having heart attack and were transported to the NICVD Karachi for angioplasty immediately, where as NICVD cardiac ambulance service was introduced to help patients in remote area and at the satellite centres requiring transportation.

They expressed regrets that such a facility was being ‘targeted’.

“Recent action by a government agency against the NICVD is condemnable,” they added.

They said that they believed in transparency and accountability at all levels, but “the manner in which this healthy facility has been targeted is simply unacceptable. It is beyond our comprehension that such a best health facility is being targeted”.

“There are many government departments, including hospitals in pathetic conditions but no action is taken against them whereas the NICVD which is only ray of hope for patients from all over Sindh is being maligned.”

They urged the relevant government authorities to take action with all caution and do not act without any solid proof.

“It has come to our knowledge that the action has been taken on complaints of some former employees who may have personal grudges,” they said.

They announced that they stand with the NICVD and the people it served.

“We recognise and fully appreciated the great contribution of everyone in the NICVD team and appeal to all concerned to recognise and appreciate these unique developments and put an immediate end to the ongoing defamation, media trial and harassment of the highly respectable and professional team of the NICVD,” they concluded.

Published in Dawn, September 20th, 2018