KARACHI: Over 1.3 million patients were treated free of cost at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) this year, data shows.

According to the hospital’s operational 2024 data, 54,000 patients were admitted to the facility. The services provided by the facility included 75 stroke interventions, 1,020 temporary pacemaker implantations and over 90,000 echocardiograms.

A total of 9,857 primary angioplasties, 4,500 early and elective angioplasties, 1,702 open heart surgeries, 18,000 angiographies and 2,020 paediatric catheterisations and interventions were done this year. Open heart surgeries for children were 1,450.

“A significant portion of these services was extended to patients from provinces and regions outside Sindh. A total of 160,427 patients from other provinces and territories availed of NICVD’s free and advanced cardiac care.

“In addition, NICVD extended its specialised cardiac care to underserved regions by establishing free pediatric cardiac services in Quetta in collaboration with the Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed Al Nahyan Institute of Cardiology,” says a spokesperson of the hospital.

Published in Dawn, December 30th, 2024