Latest news with #ShahidRasool
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Health
- Express Tribune
All-women breast radiation bay construction starts
The Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), in a major step towards enhancing cancer care for women in Pakistan, has started the construction of the state-of-the-art "Bilquis Abdul Sattar Edhi Breast Radiation Bay", a facility aimed at providing international standard radiation therapy exclusively for female breast cancer patients, operated entirely by an all-women medical staff. Speaking to The Express Tribune, JPMC Executive Director, Professor Shahid Rasool, revealed that the facility is aimed at addressing both the medical and emotional needs of women suffering with breast cancer. The new radiation bay is expected to cater to 200 to 250 patients, daily, upon completion. The facility is to be equipped with two cutting-edge Helix Tomotherapy machines, which are capable of automatically adjusting during minor patient movements, ensuring precision by targeting only cancer-affected cells. This feature is especially critical during the hour-long radiation sessions when patients may inadvertently move. The new facility will use some of the most advanced global technology in cancer treatment Professor Rasool highlighted that traditional radiation therapy, particularly for left-side breast cancer, poses risks to the heart. The new machines will employ Deep Inspiration Breath Hold (DIBH) technology, allowing radiation to be delivered while the patient holds a deep breath, increasing the distance between the heart and breast tissue, thereby reducing cardiac risk. Notably, the entire facility staff will be women, providing emotional and psychological comfort to patients who often undergo not only physical pain, but also intense mental stress and feelings of shame and inferiority due to the nature of their illness. "Hearing the word 'cancer' is devastating enough," Rasool noted, "but for many women, the treatment process brings feelings of vulnerability and embarrassment. Having female staff can offer some much-needed dignity and support." The facility is expected to be operational by January-February 2026.
Express Tribune
30-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Cancer patients to get instant biopsy reports
For the first time in Pakistan, immediate biopsy reports of suspected cancer patients will be possible in a government hospital. Under the development projects for the upcoming fiscal year, the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) will introduce a confocal instant digital pathology system, enabling real-time detection of tumor nature and spread during the surgery. Suspected cancer patients will now receive immediate biopsy reports even at government hospitals. The JPMC is set to become Pakistan's first public hospital to implement the confocal instant digital pathology system, allowing surgeons to determine tumor type and extent in real-time during surgeries. Professor Shahid Rasool, Executive Director of Jinnah Hospital Karachi, stated that the technology was previously available in private hospitals only. However, it will now be installed at Jinnah Hospital with the support of Sindh Health Department under the Sindh government's Annual Development Programme. He said that the technology processes samples and creates slides during surgery, allowing immediate determination whether a tumor is present and, if so, how far it has spread. Patients will no longer have to wait 14 to 15 days for biopsy results. Two advanced units will be purchased at a cost of Rs366 million. One unit will be installed in the surgical complex, benefiting general surgery, orthopaedics, thoracic, and ENT departments, while the second unit will be set up in the gynaecology ward. The aim of the project is not only to increase the speed and accuracy of biopsies but also to reduce the time patients remain under anaesthesia. Current methods, such as frozen section and core biopsies, take longer to produce reports, which can endanger patients' lives. The project also includes training for medical staff and improving technical expertise alongside the procurement of modern machines. Hospital officials said this system will be particularly beneficial for poor and middle-class patients who cannot afford expensive treatments at private hospitals.
Express Tribune
15-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Vascular surgeons shortage threatens limb-saving care
The metropolitan city is facing a debilitating shortage of vascular surgeons, jeopardising timely medical care for those requiring urgent vascular intervention for traumatic injuries, The Express Tribune has learnt. Presently, only a few government-run hospitals in the metropolis have the capacity to perform specialised vascular procedures, and many victims of traffic accidents or industrial mishaps are at risk of amputation due to delayed treatment. According to hospital officials and medical experts, two vascular surgeons are available at the Civil Hospital Trauma Centre and JPMC each, while Dow University of Health Sciences and the National Medical Centre each have only one specialist. Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, the third largest public hospital in Karachi, has no vascular surgery department altogether, despite regularly handling road traffic accident cases in its emergency department. JPMC's Executive Director Dr Shahid Rasool told The Express Tribune that over 300 trauma cases are reported daily at the hospital's emergency department, with 15 to 20 of these patients at high risk of limb loss due to arterial damage. Although a vascular surgery unit has recently been set up at JPMC and is staffed around the clock, Dr Rasool said that the current number of specialists is insufficient to manage the patient load effectively. Vascular surgeons play a critical role in trauma centres, where rapid intervention can mean the difference between saving and amputating a limb. However, public hospitals in the metropolis are struggling to attract young medics to this super-specialty. The lengthy and demanding training - requiring dual Fellowships of the College of Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS) in general surgery and vascular surgery - is often a deterrent. Moreover, there is limited awareness and inadequate training infrastructure to support professional development in this field. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Dr Fahad Memon, a vascular surgeon at the Civil Hospital Trauma Centre spoke about the wide scope of vascular surgery, which includes not only open surgical procedures but also minimally invasive endovascular treatments. "Every day we handle cases involving dialysis fistula creation or repair, diabetic foot ulcers, leg bypasses, angioplasty, carotid artery disease, varicose veins, and vascular tumors," he said. "These are time-sensitive conditions, and delays can result in irreversible damage or amputation." While these procedures can cost anywhere between Rs800,000 to Rs2.5 million in private hospitals, government institutions provide such treatments free of cost. However, due to the lack of specialists and infrastructure, many patients are forced to seek expensive private care or face the loss of limbs. Currently, the number of qualified vascular surgeons remains low. The Aga Khan University Hospital has three to four specialists, Civil Hospital has two, and Dow University and NMC have one each. Among the senior vascular surgeons, Dr Zaid Sufi and Dr Iram are considered among the most experienced in the field. Most other practitioners are assistant professors or in early stages of their specialisation. Medical experts have urged the government to invest in developing the field of vascular surgery. They stress the need for expanding vascular departments in major trauma centres, particularly at institutions like Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, and for creating structured training programs and mentorship opportunities to attract young doctors.
