KARACHI: Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) is advancing plans to establish a paediatric liver transplant programme in Karachi, incorporating Turkish expertise and support. This initiative, which also includes the use of posthumously donated organs and enhanced patient care, is anticipated to commence following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a prominent Turkish hospital.
According to Dow University of Health Sciences, Professor Dr. Remzi Emiroglu, a noted transplant surgeon from Medipol Mega University Hospital in Istanbul, and Ms. Meena Samadi, Asia Regional Manager of Medipol Global International Health Services, expressed significant interest during a recent visit to DUHS. Their collaboration aims to modernize liver transplant facilities, offer training to medical professionals, and elevate patient care standards. DUHS has successfully conducted over 250 liver transplants to date. Additionally, the university is working with the University of Chicago under the Paired Transplant Centres Programme of The Transplantation Society and the International Liver Transplantation Society.
The meeting at DUHS explored potential collaboration with Medipol University on various fronts, such as joint research, capacity strengthening, paediatric transplant programme development, medical protocol exchange, and deceased-donor liver transplantation training. Turkey, which initiated liver transplantation in 1989, has developed substantial expertise in this field. The visit was marked as a pivotal step towards enhancing international academic and medical cooperation and advancing DUHS's transplant services.
DUHS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr. Nazli Hossain emphasized the importance of launching the paediatric liver transplant programme as a priority. Dr. Asahr Afaque highlighted the university's extensive facilities, while Dr. Jehanzaib Haider detailed the Liver Transplant and Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Unit's progress. The meeting was attended by key figures from DUHS, and concluded with the presentation of commemorative shields and gifts to the visitors, who also toured various medical facilities at the university. Notably, Karachi has yet to perform a paediatric liver transplant.