In a major milestone for paediatric cardiac care in Pakistan, the Indus University Hospital has successfully performed its first paediatric open-heart surgery under its congenital heart services, expanding access to highly specialised heart treatment for children free-of-charge.
The complex surgery was carried out by a multidisciplinary team led by consultant paediatric cardiac surgeon Dr Zubair Barohi, and paediatric cardiologist and head of department Dr Arjumand Shauq, hospital officials said on Tuesday.
Officials said the development marks a significant expansion of cardiac services at the Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN), which had previously been offering minimally invasive cardiac interventions that catered to only around 30 per cent of children afflicted with congenital heart disease (CHD).
A majority of children requiring complicated open-heart surgeries had previously been referred to other facilities, where families often faced long waiting periods, financial hardships and limited availability of specialised paediatric cardiac surgery services.
“With this successful surgery, the Indus Hospital has now bridged a critical gap by bringing advanced paediatric cardiac surgery services in-house,” reads a statement released by the hospital.
Paediatric open-heart surgery is regarded among the most technically demanding medical procedures, requiring close coordination among paediatric cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, anaesthetists, intensive care specialists, operation theatre staff, perfusionists and technicians throughout the procedure.
According to specialists, such surgeries generally have a success rate of around 98 per cent, and can offer a lifelong cure in many cases, if performed timely.
Healthcare experts say that access to paediatric cardiac surgery remains severely limited in Pakistan, particularly in Sindh, where only a handful of surgeons and hospitals offer comprehensive congenital heart surgery services.
Public sector hospitals often have waiting lists stretching from one to two years, while treatment at private hospitals remains beyond the reach of many families. Karachi serves as a major referral hub for CHD patients from across the country, adding further pressure on the limited specialised facilities available in the city.
Commenting on the development, IHHN CEO Prof Syed Zafar Zaidi said that the achievement represents more than a single successful surgery. “This milestone is not just about one successful surgery. It is about building a system that can consistently deliver complex, lifesaving care at scale.”
Prof Zaidi said that by investing in infrastructure, technology and people, they are laying the foundation for a sustainable cardiac programme that will significantly improve access and outcomes for children across Pakistan.
IHHN President Dr Abdul Bari Khan termed the successful surgery an emotional and important moment for the institution. “For years we have witnessed families struggle to find access to lifesaving heart surgeries for their children. Today we pray that this step becomes a source of hope for countless parents, and a means of saving many precious lives.
Hospital officials said the institution plans to gradually expand into more advanced and complex paediatric cardiac procedures in the near future as part of its commitment to providing world-class healthcare services for free.
The successful launch of paediatric open-heart surgery services is being seen as an important addition to the country’s limited congenital cardiac care infrastructure, and a potentially lifesaving development for children afflicted with critical heart defects.
