KARACHI: Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) is moving towards launching a paediatric liver transplant programme in Karachi with Turkish support, while also seeking expertise in deceased-donor liver transplantation and improved care for transplant patients.
A memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a leading Turkish hospital is expected to be signed soon as part of the proposed collaboration.
Prof. Dr. Remzi Emiroğlu, a renowned transplant surgeon associated with Medipol Mega University Hospital, Istanbul, and Ms. Meena Samadi, Asia Regional Manager of Medipol Global International Health Services, expressed keen interest in collaborating with DUHS during their recent visit to the university.
The proposed collaboration is aimed at modernising liver transplant facilities, strengthening the skills of medical professionals and improving standards of patient care.
DUHS has so far performed more than 250 liver transplants. The university is also collaborating with the University of Chicago under the Paired Transplant Centres Programme of The Transplantation Society and the International Liver Transplantation Society (TTS-ILTS).
During a meeting at DUHS, participants discussed potential collaboration with Medipol University in several areas, including joint research, institutional capacity building, development of a paediatric liver transplant programme, exchange of medical protocols for pre- and post-operative patient care, and training in deceased-donor liver transplantation.
Turkey began liver transplantation in 1989 and has since developed considerable expertise and advanced medical facilities in organ transplantation, particularly liver transplantation.
DUHS Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nazli Hussain described the proposed launch of a paediatric liver transplant programme as a priority under the planned collaboration.
At the outset of the meeting, Dr. Ashraf Afaq gave a presentation on the university's medical, academic and research facilities. Dr. Jehanzaib Haider later briefed the visiting delegation on the development of the Liver Transplant and Hepatopancreatobiliary (HPB) Surgery Unit since its establishment.
The briefing covered training of the transplant team, infrastructure development, research and academic activities, patient outcomes and major achievements of the institution.
Principal Dow International Medical College Prof. Dr. Uzma Bukhari, Medical Superintendent Dow University Hospital Prof. Dr. Khursheed Samo, Chief Operating Officer Dow University Hospital Muhammad Babar, Head of the Liver Transplant and Hepatopancreatobiliary Surgery Unit Dr. Jehanzaib Haider, and other faculty members associated with the transplant programme attended the meeting.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the vice chancellor and registrar presented commemorative shields and gifts to the visiting guests.
The Turkish delegation later visited the Dow Comprehensive Cancer Care Centre, MR-Linac facility, Department of Nuclear Medicine and Theranostics, and Gamma Knife Centre.
According to DUHS, no paediatric liver transplant has so far been performed in Karachi. The proposed programme, if launched, would therefore mark a significant development in the city's transplant services.
