KARACHI: The Sindh Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (SICVD) has reaffirmed its commitment to providing state-of-the-art cardiac care, treating over 2 million patients entirely free of cost in 2024.
With its extensive network of hospitals and Chest Pain Units (CPUs), SICVD has become the world’s largest cardiac care facility, according to Professor Jawaid Akbar Sial, Executive Director of SICVD.
Operating through its nine cardiac hospitals across Sindh Province, including facilities in Larkana, Tando Muhammad Khan, Hyderabad, Sehwan, Sukkur, Nawabshah, Mithi, Khairpur, and Lyari, SICVD offers a wide range of diagnostic services and cardiac procedures.
Several centers, including those in Sukkur, Larkana, Tando Muhammad Khan, and Hyderabad, also provide advanced open-heart and bypass surgeries, including pediatric cardiac surgeries. In 2024 alone, 2,145 open-heart surgeries were performed across these centers.
Highlighting the institution’s impact, the Executive Director shared detailed statistics for the year. A total of 472,612 patients were treated in Sukkur, 301,787 in Tando Muhammad Khan, 316,133 in Larkana, 36,942 in Nawabshah, 280,932 in Hyderabad, 32,113 in Sehwan, 101,092 in Khairpur, 84,973 in Mithi, and 90,463 in Lyari. Furthermore, 11,377 primary angioplasties, 7,341 early invasive angioplasties, 2,145 open-heart surgeries, 724 temporary pacemakers (TPM), 548 permanent pacemakers (PPM), 90 percutaneous transvenous mitral commissurotomies (PTMC), 1,618 pediatric cardiac interventions, and over 100 stroke interventions were performed during the year.
Additionally, SICVD recorded 460,832 emergency visits, 361,042 outpatient visits, 46,461 patient admissions, and 108,236 echocardiograms.
SICVD’s comprehensive network also includes 28 Chest Pain Units (CPUs) strategically located across Karachi and other cities in Sindh. These units serve as critical first-response centers, stabilizing patients and transferring them to main hospitals for advanced care when necessary. In 2024, 376,524 patients were treated at these units, with 8,867 heart attack patients promptly shifted to the main facilities for primary angioplasty. Plans are underway to establish three additional CPUs at various locations in Karachi and other cities.
A significant number of patients from across Pakistan also benefit from SICVD’s services. In 2024, 119,083 patients from provinces other than Sindh visited the SICVD network for cardiac treatment. This highlights the institution’s growing reputation as a national hub for comprehensive and free cardiac care.
Professor Sial announced that SICVD Baldia Town, Karachi, is nearing completion and will soon be operational. This new facility will offer the latest cardiac care services to residents of Baldia Town and surrounding areas, further expanding SICVD’s outreach.
“This has been made possible through the relentless support of the Sindh Government,” he added.
Since its inception, SICVD has been at the forefront of providing quality cardiac care, serving patients from all over Pakistan free of cost.
Its network includes nine hospitals and 28 CPUs, ensuring that world-class cardiac treatment is accessible to every individual, regardless of financial status. Services include advanced diagnostic facilities, primary angioplasties, open-heart surgeries, pediatric cardiac interventions, electrophysiology procedures, and stroke treatments. SICVD’s efforts have set a global benchmark in public sector healthcare, especially in densely populated and low-income regions.
Professor Sial reiterated SICVD’s mission: “To provide state-of-the-art cardiac treatment to patients across Pakistan, completely free of cost, ensuring no life is lost due to lack of access or affordability.”
