KARACHI: First Lady Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari, MNA, was briefed on a proposal to establish a Comprehensive Stroke Centre at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) to strengthen specialised stroke care in Sindh.
The briefing was given by Dr Syed Fazal Zaidi, Professor of Neurology at the University of Toledo, internationally recognised vascular and interventional neurologist, and Founding Director of the JPMC Comprehensive Stroke Program. He was accompanied by Mushtaq Chapra, Chairman of the Patient Aid Foundation.
Dr Zaidi highlighted the growing burden of stroke in Sindh, stating that the province, with a population of more than 55 million, records an estimated 500 stroke cases every day, including around 50 severe cases requiring highly specialised treatment. He stressed the need for a public-sector Comprehensive Stroke Centre capable of providing timely, life-saving care.
The First Lady was informed that although the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) and the Sindh Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (SICVD) provide treatment for patients with ischaemic stroke, Sindh currently does not have a Comprehensive Stroke Centre equipped to manage the full range of stroke conditions. The proposed centre would provide treatment for both ischaemic and haemorrhagic strokes, advanced neuro-interventional procedures, neurocritical care, specialised rehabilitation and other complex neurovascular emergencies.
According to Dr Zaidi, the project is being implemented through the Pakistan Stroke Initiative, a US-based non-profit organisation working in partnership with the Patient Aid Foundation, JPMC, and the Government of Sindh. The initiative aims to establish Sindh’s first public-sector Comprehensive Stroke Centre, which will offer advanced treatment, specialist training, medical research and serve as the hub of a province-wide tele-stroke network.
Mushtaq Chapra reaffirmed the Patient Aid Foundation’s commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s public healthcare system through philanthropic partnerships and supporting the development of world-class medical infrastructure at JPMC to ensure equal access to advanced healthcare services.
The delegation also presented its long-term vision of establishing Pakistan’s first public-sector Comprehensive Stroke Network over the next three to five years. The plan includes training stroke neurologists and neuro-interventional specialists, expanding regional stroke services, improving emergency referral systems, standardising stroke care protocols and connecting district hospitals through an integrated tele-stroke network.
First Lady Bibi Asifa Bhutto Zardari appreciated the collaborative efforts of the Pakistan Stroke Initiative, the Patient Aid Foundation and JPMC to improve stroke care in the country. She expressed her full support for initiatives aimed at reducing preventable deaths and lifelong disability caused by stroke, saying such projects would save lives and improve patient outcomes.
The meeting concluded with a shared commitment to advancing the JPMC Comprehensive Stroke Centre as a landmark public-sector healthcare project that will complement existing medical services, strengthen Sindh’s stroke care system and expand access to high-quality specialised treatment across the province and Pakistan.
Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab also attended the briefing.
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