Indian doctor conducts liver transplant camp in Pakistan's 'Peace Clinic'

A ‘peace clinic’ programme between a Pakistani and an Indian hospital led to an unusual sight of an Indian doctor conducting a medical camp for liver transplant patients in Karachi. Dr Arvinder Singh Soin, chief liver transplant surgeon from Medanta Hospital in Gurgaon, Haryana conducted the camp along with some Pakistani doctors at Karachi’s Dr Ziauddin Hospital under the peace clinic programme, whereby doctors from across the border share their expertise to help patients specifically in areas of kidney and liver transplant.

Dr Soin said that it was a different experience for him treating Pakistani patients. “We have even invited the Ziauddin hospital to send their doctors and paramedics for training to Medanta Hospital,” he said. He added that other doctors from Medanta Hospital will also visit Pakistan in future and treat Pakistani patients in their own country.

“We want to facilitate these patients as much as we can and also conduct surgeries at the Ziauddin hospital,” Dr Soin said. Dr Asim Hussain, Chairman at the Ziauddin hospital said, “The camp was organised as part of a peace programme between the two hospitals and we are inviting more doctors from India to come and share their expertise and experiences with us in the field of liver transplant.”

Dr Hussain said talks are being held to eventually set-up a combined kidney-liver ward at Ziauddin Hospital. “We want to run this joint ward by our doctors with direct assistance from specialists at the Medanta Hospital through the latest IT infrastructure,” he said. Dr Anoop Dawani, medical superintendent at the Ziauddin Hospital, said it is good that medical professionals from both countries are taking steps to provide benefits and expertise to patients in Pakistan specifically in areas of kidney and liver transplant.

“A revolution could be brought in Pakistan’s healthcare industry so that Pakistani patients can avail world class treatment in their home country,” he said. He said Ziauddin Hospital had earlier also combined with the Apollo Hospitals in India to conduct joint surgeries in Karachi and establish a peace clinic to allow doctors from both countries to share their expertise and experiences.

Image Credit: Shutterstock

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