RIC all geared up to perform heart transplant surgeries

Inks MoU for protection of heart health of journalists;
free cardiac treatment to be provided to NPC members, their families

Islamabad

Patients with end-stage heart failure or severe coronary artery disease will now be able to undergo cardiac transplant within Pakistan, thanks to the Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology (RIC), which is giving final touches to arrangements for performing this complicated surgical procedure of the heart in its premises, effective April 2016.

“The first procedure will be carried out in RIC in the coming month, and will be performed by renowned cardiac transplantation expert from London Dr. Hasnat Khan,” the executive director of RIC Prof. Dr. Azhar Mahmood Kayani announced Tuesday at the National Press Club (NPC), where RIC and NPC inked a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for provision of comprehensive free cardiac care and treatment to all members of NPC, including their families and parents. RIC has been magnanimous enough not to impose an upper limit on the cost of treatment that beneficiaries of the media community will be able to avail.

Referring to the economics of heart transplant, Dr. Kayani informed that the procedure in Pakistan will cost Rs800,000 only, as opposed to Rs15 million incurred in countries like the United Kingdom. “We need to develop more models like RIC so that the poor too can access quality treatment. It is usually the poor who face financial catastrophes when illness strikes. Often times, they end up losing their lifelong earnings and are caught up in a vicious cycle of debt in return for obtaining the required medical care,” he added.

Dr. Kayani attributed the shortage of life-savings drugs and other essential medicines in Pakistan to self-centred profiteers whose sole purpose is to accumulate wealth, so be it at the cost of precious human lives. He urged the relevant authorities to conduct a crackdown against such elements in a bid to guarantee uninterrupted supply of medicines.

Delivering a lecture of cardiovascular disease prevention, Dr. Kayani emphasised the value of lifestyle modification, regular physical activity, cessation of smoking, and consumption of a balanced diet in order to stay clear of cardiovascular diseases, which can conveniently be prevented by controlling key risk factors.

Dr. Kayani also shared simple yet valuable guidelines on how patients suffering from cardiac diseases can avoid stress, which is one of the key risk factors that triggers heart ailments. He advised patients to avoid over-eating as per the injunctions of the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him). He also warned against excessive consumption of beverages like coffee and tea, which journalists simply cannot function without, as well as chocolates, ice-creams, and baked products. He advised them to consume more of white meat, fish, pulses, vegetables and fruits, and milk and home-made yogurt.

In offering guidelines to diabetic patients, Dr. Kayani warned against consumption of desserts, fried products, fizzy drinks, etc. He urged cardiac patients to adopt healthy lifestyle changes such as a 30-minute brisk walk every day, and to keep their body weight well in control. “Avoid haste when working, exercise control over your anger, and take at least 6 to 8 hours of sleep as failure to do so may entail unnecessary risks to the heart,” Dr. Kayani stated.

In conclusion, the executive director of RIC pledged all-out support to NPC in organising public awareness seminars and campaigns to alert people about the need to adopt ways to prevent heart diseases.

Speaking on the occasion, NPC president Shakeel Anjum hoped that the NPC Islamabad and RIC will further strengthen their cooperation for the welfare of journalists who, in their constant drive to meet pressing deadlines and perform under stressful conditions, often end up neglecting their own health. He thanks RIC for agreeing to provide free cardiac care, not merely to working journalists who are members of NPC, but also to their family members and parents.

In the end, the secretary of NPC Ch. Imran Dhilun stressed the need to explore further avenues to promote and protect the health of journalists.