Asif Chaudhry Updated Jan 30, 2015 08:32am
LAHORE: Children’s Hospital is establishing a paediatric organ transplant facility to carry out sensitive procedures in three critical areas – cardiac, kidney and liver transplant.
This life-saving organ transplant facility will be provided in collaboration with the Birmingham Children’s Hospital, England, as the Children’s Hospital/Institute of Child Health has inked an agreement with it.
If the scheme materialises as elaborated in the agreement, it will be the first-ever public sector healthcare programme in pediatric specialised health facilities in Pakistan. Such facilities are rare in the country since the government’s focus has largely been on health infrastructure for the adult population which is evident from a few specialised teaching hospitals for the pediatric care in the province. The 680-bed Children’s Hospital/Institute of Child Health is the only full-fledged multi-specialty public institute. In addition to radiology and pathology services, there are 26 paediatric and paediatric surgery sub-specialties and super-specialties. This institute also lacked the critical facilities of organ transplant in cardiac, liver and kidney procedures. Resultantly, parents take their children to India and other countries for treatment.
As some of the diseases of the Pakistani population are peculiar with this region, the potential exchange of staff and research collaboration are also part of the agreement to increase the staff knowledge and understanding of the cultural origins of this vulnerable group as well as to enhance relationships with the community.
According to the agreement, the organ transplant scheme will be implemented in phases. In the first phase, the Children’s Hospital will start renal transplant at the new building which is near completion.
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