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Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to strengthening specialised health care, medical research and advanced cancer treatment as he addressed the inaugural session of the 7th Annual Neuro-Oncology Symposium (7ANOS) at Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC).
Highlighting the remarkable transformation of the JPMC since its transfer to the Sindh government in 2011, the CM said the institution had evolved into one of Pakistan’s leading centres of excellence in health care, medical education and research.
He emphasised that the government’s investments in the JPMC, National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), National Institute of Child Health (NICH) and other specialised institutions were aimed at ensuring that quality healthcare remained accessible to all citizens regardless of their financial means.
The symposium, organised by the Pakistan Society of Neuro-Oncology (PASNO) and Pakistan Academy of Neurological Surgery (PANS) in collaboration with the JPMC, Aga Khan University (AKU), Brain Tumour Foundation of Pakistan (BTFPAK) and Society of Medical Oncology Pakistan (SMOP), brought together Pakistani and foreign experts, researchers, health care professionals, trainees and patient advocates under the theme ‘Neuro-Oncology in the Real World: Challenges, Innovations, and Impact’.
The event was attended by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab, PASNO and PANS President Prof Syed Ather Enam, JPMC Executive Director Prof Dr Khalid Sher, Professor Emeritus Dr Tariq Mahmood, Organising and Scientific Chair Dr Shumaila Arooj and Patient Aid Foundation-JPMC Chairman Mushtaq Chhapra among others.
Welcoming distinguished international delegates, the CM said global collaboration was essential for advancing medical science and improving patient outcomes. He noted that behind every diagnosis were a patient and a family seeking hope, and it was the collective responsibility of healthcare professionals, researchers and policymakers to ensure that scientific progress translated into better treatment and improved quality of life.
Recalling the transfer of JPMC to the Sindh government in 2011, he shared that the provincial government stepped in to provide immediate financial support when no federal allocation was available for the institution.
He said the Sindh government had since continued investing heavily in public health care enabling the JPMC to expand its services and infrastructure significantly.
The CM paid tribute to philanthropists, donors and healthcare leaders, particularly Chhapra and the Patient Aid Foundation, for their contributions towards the modernisation of the JPMC. He highlighted successful partnership between the government and philanthropic organisations, under which public contributions had been matched by government support to accelerate health care development.
Speaking about specialised health services, Shah noted that Sindh’s institutions had achieved national and international recognition. Referring to the NICVD, he said it was widely acknowledged for performing one of the largest numbers of primary angioplasty procedures under one roof anywhere in the world.
The CM also highlighted Sindh’s efforts to strengthen neurological and cancer care. He announced that the government was supporting the establishment of a dedicated institute for neurological diseases and thanked the provincial cabinet for approving the allocation of land free of cost for the project.
He expressed confidence that in the coming years, the proposed facility would emerge as a major centre for neurological treatment, research and academic exchange.
Emphasising the importance of innovation, Shah said the world of medicine was advancing rapidly through artificial intelligence, precision medicine, advanced imaging technologies and robotics. He reiterated the government’s resolve to ensure that Sindh’s healthcare institutions remained aligned with global developments.
He described the installation of CyberKnife and TomoTherapy facilities at the JPMC as a landmark achievement in cancer care, enabling highly precise and non-invasive treatment for cancer patients. These technologies, he said, placed the JPMC among a select group of healthcare institutions offering some of the world’s most advanced radiation oncology services.
The CM stressed that neuro-oncology was among the most complex fields of medicine, requiring close coordination among neurosurgeons, neurologists, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, radiation specialists, rehabilitation experts and nursing professionals.
He said multidisciplinary collaboration was essential for delivering the highest standards of care to patients suffering from brain and spinal tumours.
He also underscored the importance of locally driven medical research, stating that Pakistan’s healthcare challenges required solutions informed by indigenous evidence and regional experience. He urged universities, teaching hospitals and research institutions to strengthen clinical research, generate meaningful data and promote innovation that directly benefited patients.
Addressing young doctors, trainees and medical students participating in the symposium, Shah encouraged them to remain committed to learning, research and professional excellence. He urged them to maintain compassion and always remember the human dimension behind every medical diagnosis.
Earlier, Dr Shumaila said that innovation in neuro-oncology must ultimately translate into accessible, practical and patient-centred care.
The PASNO and PANS president described the hosting of the symposium at the JPMC as a historic milestone, saying it brought academic discussions directly into the public-sector healthcare system where thousands of brain tumour patients received treatment annually.
Dr Sher and Dr Mahmood reiterated the JPMC’s
commitment to academic excellence, research and advanced cancer care, while highlighting the institution’s progress over the past decade.
