At a time when health care and education are slipping further out of reach for thousands of families due to rising inflation, the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), and Edhi Foundation have moved to strengthen free and equitable access to such basic facilities by signing a partnership to expand medical and paramedic education in Pakistan.
The agreement was signed in Karachi by SIUT founder Dr Adib Rizvi and Edhi Foundation Chief Executive Officer Faisal Edhi to formalise a long-standing humanitarian relationship and sets the stage for joint development of undergraduate technical and medical training through the Sindh Institute of Medical Sciences, a degree awarding institution recognised by the Higher Education Commission.
Officials said the collaboration aims at widening opportunities for students who cannot afford the high cost of medical education by providing access to modern learning tools, emerging technologies and structured clinical training. The initiative focuses on capacity building and developing a new generation of health care professionals who can serve communities that struggle with both health and financial hardships.
The partnership builds on decades of support that the Edhi Foundation has extended to the SIUT. In 2014, the foundation donated 100 million rupees to rebuild and modernise an operation theatre at SIUT, later named the Abdul Sattar and Bilquees Edhi Transplant OT Complex. It also provided eight ambulances and two loaders that continue to transport critically ill patients without charge, reinforcing the SIUT’s mission of free and dignified treatment for all.
The SIUT has operated on this principle for more than fifty years, offering cost-free care and education in a country where families now face increasing out-of-pocket expenses for even basic services.
Both the organisations have said that the collaboration is rooted in their shared belief that health and education are fundamental rights. They have expressed confidence that the partnership will not only enhance professional training but also contribute to sustainable long-term progress in Pakistan’s health care and education sectors.
