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Express Tribune
17-07-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Mental health crisis deepens amid neuro deficit
Pakistan is grappling with a severe mental health crisis, as nearly 25 million people out of a population of 240 million suffer from various neurological and psychological disorders. Alarmingly, the country has only around 400 neurologists to serve the entire population, creating a critical gap in care. Mental health issues are particularly prevalent among the youth, with 15 per cent of young people affected. These statistics were shared during a neurological health awareness session organised by the Neurology Awareness and Research Foundation (NARF) in connection with World Brain Day, observed on July 22. Speaking at the session, NARF President Prof Muhammad Wasay and General Secretary Prof Abdul Malik said mental health disorders are on the rise in Pakistan due to multiple social and environmental factors. They criticised the lack of mental health infrastructure, particularly in district hospitals and primary healthcare centres. "A healthy brain is a symbol of a prosperous society," said Prof Wasay. "Unfortunately, no meaningful steps have been taken by the government to prioritise brain and mental health." The experts highlighted that women and children are especially vulnerable to mental health disorders due to nutritional deficiencies, poverty, and social stress. Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) Consultant Neurologist Dr Wajid Javed added that children's mental well-being is also being negatively impacted by excessive screen time on computers and mobile devices. Globally, 43% of the population suffers from some form of neurological disorder. In Sindh alone, one in every three people is affected by mental illness, including depression. Despite these alarming numbers, the experts noted a near-total absence of diagnostic facilities at the primary care level. Moreover, effective treatment remains inaccessible for many due to the high cost of medication. They urged the government to ensure that CT scans, MRIs, essential medications, and trained neurologists are available in all district hospitals. The panel also disclosed a worrying rise in stroke cases, which have doubled over the past decade. Around 450,000 people suffer strokes annually, primarily due to uncontrolled blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes.
Business Recorder
15-07-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
Pakistan develops its first-ever indigenous biomolecule to make anti-rabies vaccine
KARACHI: In a historical breakthrough in health and medical sciences, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) has successfully achieved lab-scale formulation of Pakistan's first indigenous human anti-rabies vaccine. This milestone positions the country on the path toward self-reliance in combating dog-bite cases that claim many lives every year. The pharmaceutical industry officials confirmed that this is the first-ever indigenous human vaccine developed from a locally achieved biological molecule, creating a new history in the health and medical sciences in Pakistan. The World Bank supported the project. It was implemented by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). Dow University started commercial production of anti-rabies vaccine from Chinese raw material last year, naming it 'Dow Rab'. Now the university has developed its own indigenous biomolecule that will be used to develop the vaccine. This would reduce the country's heavy dependence on imported vaccines worth billion of rupees in a year. According to the university's website, its Linkedin's post, and confirmation by its officials to Business Recorder 'this (the vaccine) purified, inactivated, lyophilised vaccine has been developed from a locally isolated rabies virus strain, marking a critical step forward in the fight against rabies in Pakistan'. With lab-scale success achieved, the project will now progress to the manufacturing of clinical trial batches for the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) approval, 'bringing us closer to national vaccine production and use,' the DUHS announcement read. Current state of vaccines in Pakistan Speaking at International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, the other day, Macter, Director Quality Operations and Biotech, Farooq Mustafa said Pakistan completely depends on imported vaccines, which are donated and supplied at discounted price worth totaling around Rs26 billion a year with the support of GAVI, UNICEF and WHO. The GVAI support is ending by 2031. This will increase financial burden to Rs100 billion annually in vaccine imports that comes to around four time of the federal health budget at Rs27 billion. The anticipated development do not only suggests a looming crisis in the healthcare system of Pakistan, but at the same time provides an opportunity to the country to shift its focus towards achieving self-reliance in vaccine manufacturing indigenously. Mustafa also wrote in an article that Pakistan produces virtually no antigens for the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) vaccines domestically. 'We lack essential seed banks, have minimal university-based vaccine development programmes, and operate with regulatory guidelines that are inadequate for sophisticated vaccine manufacturing. Our clinical trial expertise remains severely limited, creating bottlenecks in bringing locally developed vaccines to market,' he said.
Business Recorder
15-07-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
Pakistan develops first-ever indigenous biomolecule to make anti-rabies vaccine
KARACHI: In a historical breakthrough in health and medical sciences, Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) has successfully achieved lab-scale formulation of Pakistan's first indigenous human anti-rabies vaccine. This milestone positions the country on the path toward self-reliance in combating dog-bite cases that claim many lives every year. The pharmaceutical industry officials confirmed that this is the first ever indigenous human vaccine developed from a locally achieved biological molecule, creating a new history in the health and medical sciences in Pakistan. The World Bank supported the project. It was implemented by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). Dow University started commercial production of anti-rabies vaccine from Chinese raw material last year, naming it 'Dow Rab'. Now the university has developed its own indigenous biomolecule that will be used to develop anti-rabies vaccine. This would reduce the country's heavy dependence on imported vaccines worth billion of rupees in a year. According to the university's website, its Linkedin's post, and confirmation by its officials to Business Recorder 'this (the vaccine) purified, inactivated, lyophilised vaccine has been developed from a locally isolated rabies virus strain, marking a critical step forward in the fight against rabies in Pakistan'. With lab-scale success achieved, the project will now progress to the manufacturing of clinical trial batches for the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) approval, 'bringing us closer to national vaccine production and use,' the DUHS announcement read. Current state of vaccines in Pakistan Speaking at International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, the other day, Macter, Director Quality Operations and Biotech, Farooq Mustafa said Pakistan completely depends on imported vaccines, which are donated and supplied at discounted price worth totaling around Rs26 billion a year with the support of GAVI, UNICEF and WHO. The GVAI support is ending by 2031. This will increase financial burden to Rs100 billion annually in vaccine imports that comes to around four time of the federal health budget at Rs27 billion. The anticipated development do not only suggests a looming crisis in the healthcare system of Pakistan, but at the same time provides an opportunity to the country to shift its focus towards achieving self-reliance in vaccine manufacturing indigenously. Mustafa also wrote in an article that Pakistan produces virtually no antigens for the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) vaccines domestically. 'We lack essential seed banks, have minimal university-based vaccine development programmes, and operate with regulatory guidelines that are inadequate for sophisticated vaccine manufacturing. Our clinical trial expertise remains severely limited, creating bottlenecks in bringing locally developed vaccines to market,' he said.
Express Tribune
15-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Vascular surgeons shortage threatens limb-saving care
The metropolitan city is facing a debilitating shortage of vascular surgeons, jeopardising timely medical care for those requiring urgent vascular intervention for traumatic injuries, The Express Tribune has learnt. Presently, only a few government-run hospitals in the metropolis have the capacity to perform specialised vascular procedures, and many victims of traffic accidents or industrial mishaps are at risk of amputation due to delayed treatment. According to hospital officials and medical experts, two vascular surgeons are available at the Civil Hospital Trauma Centre and JPMC each, while Dow University of Health Sciences and the National Medical Centre each have only one specialist. Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, the third largest public hospital in Karachi, has no vascular surgery department altogether, despite regularly handling road traffic accident cases in its emergency department. JPMC's Executive Director Dr Shahid Rasool told The Express Tribune that over 300 trauma cases are reported daily at the hospital's emergency department, with 15 to 20 of these patients at high risk of limb loss due to arterial damage. Although a vascular surgery unit has recently been set up at JPMC and is staffed around the clock, Dr Rasool said that the current number of specialists is insufficient to manage the patient load effectively. Vascular surgeons play a critical role in trauma centres, where rapid intervention can mean the difference between saving and amputating a limb. However, public hospitals in the metropolis are struggling to attract young medics to this super-specialty. The lengthy and demanding training - requiring dual Fellowships of the College of Physicians and Surgeons (FCPS) in general surgery and vascular surgery - is often a deterrent. Moreover, there is limited awareness and inadequate training infrastructure to support professional development in this field. Speaking to The Express Tribune, Dr Fahad Memon, a vascular surgeon at the Civil Hospital Trauma Centre spoke about the wide scope of vascular surgery, which includes not only open surgical procedures but also minimally invasive endovascular treatments. "Every day we handle cases involving dialysis fistula creation or repair, diabetic foot ulcers, leg bypasses, angioplasty, carotid artery disease, varicose veins, and vascular tumors," he said. "These are time-sensitive conditions, and delays can result in irreversible damage or amputation." While these procedures can cost anywhere between Rs800,000 to Rs2.5 million in private hospitals, government institutions provide such treatments free of cost. However, due to the lack of specialists and infrastructure, many patients are forced to seek expensive private care or face the loss of limbs. Currently, the number of qualified vascular surgeons remains low. The Aga Khan University Hospital has three to four specialists, Civil Hospital has two, and Dow University and NMC have one each. Among the senior vascular surgeons, Dr Zaid Sufi and Dr Iram are considered among the most experienced in the field. Most other practitioners are assistant professors or in early stages of their specialisation. Medical experts have urged the government to invest in developing the field of vascular surgery. They stress the need for expanding vascular departments in major trauma centres, particularly at institutions like Abbasi Shaheed Hospital, and for creating structured training programs and mentorship opportunities to attract young doctors.
Express Tribune
15-05-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
Non-practicing women doctors may work online
HBL had around 23 million customers out of the total of 62 million as on March 31, 2021. PHOTO: FILE Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) has launched e-Doctor Phase 2.0 programme to train female doctors, who had left practice due to marriage or family obligations, in providing consultation online via smartphones. The programme aimed to reintegrate the women doctors back into the medical field was initiated in 2018 through a partnership between DUHS and Educast. Due to its vast potential, the project received financial support from the Islamic Development Bank. As per reports, over 30,000 female MBBS graduates in Pakistan are not practicing medicine, resulting in an estimated loss of approximately Rs35 billion to the national treasury. In the first phase, over 1,500 female doctors from 27 countries were trained in collaboration with Germany and Stanford University. The e-Doctor programme provided healthcare services in countries such as Afghanistan, Yemen, Palestine, and Pakistan. During Pakistan's recent floods, the programme provided immediate digital medical assistance to affected areas. The e-Doctor services were also utilized on the Bridge platform for elderly care. The program will provide doctors with modern online certification, observational training at partner clinics, and access to virtual clinics, enabling the patients to consult doctors via smartphones. Prof Dr Jahan Ara Hasan, Acting Vice Chancellor of DUHS, said that this is not just a programme but a movement that is becoming a means for female doctors to reconnect with medicine in a dignified manner.
