Medical evolution

Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) in Lahore became the first public hospital in Pakistan to successfully perform robotic surgery (nephrectomy - used for removal of the kidney). This is a huge achievement and milestone for a third world country where at least 17 million people currently suffer from kidney disease.

Pakistan ranks eighth among the countries with the most kidney disease. According to the Pakistan Demographic Survey, kidney disease is one of the leading causes of death in the country in 2020, with at least 2.77% of all deaths due to kidney disease.

A survey conducted in Punjab in 2017 with the help of the Punjab Department of Statistics and PKLI&RC showed that the incidence in the province was estimated at 8.9 percent of the population and 9.3 percent of those living in rural areas. In Pakistan, where about 40% of the diseases are related to kidney, liver and bladder problems, only a few hospitals are specialized enough to meet the demand.

About the role of PKLI, he said that under the supervision of Prof Dr Faisal Dar, his team of surgeons completed 75 liver transplants, advanced operations and marathons with 97% success.

Pakistan's financial problems have left the government with little funding for healthcare.In 2022-2023, the finance ministry has allocated Rs 12.7 billion for public health services, up from Rs 13.3 billion previously. These economic issues make it more important for authorities to create organizations like PKLI where people can access world-class medical care.

The hospital was first seen as the invention of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, who started the project with the goal of becoming "Pakistan's Johns Hopkins" when he was the prime minister of Punjab.However, PKLI did not survive the non-operation conflict, leaving many people in need of medical care. In 2018, former CJ Saqib Nisar issued a suo-motu notice to the hospital. In 2019, the Supreme Court overturned all of Saqib Nisar's sentences. But at that time the PTI government did nothing to repair the hospital, this hospital made headlines in 2020 when the coronavirus hit the country and the Punjab government set up a ward for Covid-19 PKLI patients. In April 2022, he returned to the hospital business after the government led by Shehbaz Sharif took office.

We need similar projects in other states, not just in big cities. If Karachi and Lahore can have these facilities - and after the attack - what hope is there for people living in other cities or surrounding areas? Now, seriously ill from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa travel to Punjab or Sindh for cheap treatment for various diseases. In this context, lessons can be drawn from the Sindh local government, which has been dealing with health for many years.

In 2022, he opened a robotic operation at SUIT, a Karachi-based kidney disease hospital known for his professionalism and dedication to healthcare.It is hoped that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will work with other state governments to replicate these projects locally. We need more programs like this to provide free or minimal medical care. We also want the government to respect and expand healthcare regardless of who initiates it, so that the healthcare market remains stable and accessible in this country.

The Pakistan Kidney and Liver Organized (PKLI) is all set to conduct to begin with time liver transplant operations of three patients beneath the ‘swap transplant programme’ here on Thursday (today).

It will put Pakistan on the list of the nations conducting swap transplant procedures.

Under the swap transplant arrangement, personalities of beneficiaries and givers are not shared.

Headed by PKLI dean Prof Faisal Dar, a highly-trained team of the surgeons would perform liver transplants at the institute.

Chairman & programme director of liver transplant hepatobiliary & pancreatic surgery Dr Ihsanul Haq, and consultants Dr Sohail Rashid, Dr Yasir Khan and Dr Siraj Haider are also part of the team.