ISLAMABAD: A leading Pakistani medical facility has completed 1,000 liver transplants in the South Asian country, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailing it as a major milestone in the country’s health sector.
In addition to 1,000 liver transplants, the Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) has performed 1,100 kidney and 14 bone marrow transplants, and has treated over 4 million patients since 2017, according to Pakistani state media.
Currently, around 80 percent of patients receive free treatment, using advanced technology. For those who can afford it, treatment costs go up to Rs6 million ($21,359), significantly lower than in other countries in the region.
“The sapling planted in 2017 has become a full-fledged tree today, benefiting 4 million patients so far,” PM Sharif said of the state-of-the-art medical facility.
“PKLI treats 80 percent of its patients free of cost, enabling the poor to benefit from international standard facilities.”
In Pakistan, patients in need of kidney and liver transplants faced significant challenges due to a lack of medical facilities and specialized infrastructure. Many of these patients had to opt for costly treatment abroad.
The PKLI has eliminated these challenges by opening the doors to treatment within Pakistan. The institute also offers services in urology, gastroenterology, nephrology, interventional radiology, advanced endoscopy, and robotic surgeries.
In the past, authorities say, the institute suffered challenges such as freezing of its funds and investigations against its management on political basis.
“The team that worked hard to establish the PKLI and restart its operations to bring it back to its full potential deserves appreciation,” Sharif added.
