Pakistan marks milestone as DUHS conducts 190th liver transplant under global supervision

In a groundbreaking development for organ transplantation in Pakistan, the liver transplant team at the Dow University of Health Sciences, led by Dr Jahanzaib Haider, performed the country’s first-ever live demonstration of an entire living donor liver transplant procedure on Wednesday.

For the first time in Pakistan, viewers were able to witness every step of a living donor liver transplant in real time, from donor hepatectomy to graft implantation and reconstruction.

The surgery, conducted under the supervision of world-renowned transplant surgeons from the United States, marked the 190th successful liver transplant at the university’s Ojha Campus.

Both the donor, a 23-year-old man, and the recipient, his 42-year-old uncle suffering from end-stage liver disease due to chronic hepatitis B and D, are reported to be in stable condition following the complex operation.

The landmark procedure was streamed live on the university’s official website, Facebook page, and other social media platforms, making it accessible to medical professionals, students, and the general public in what officials called a rare and historic educational initiative.

Among the supervising experts was Professor John Fung, considered a living legend in the field of liver transplantation and a close associate of the late Professor Thomas Starzl, widely regarded as the pioneer of liver transplant.

It was Professor Fung’s first visit to Pakistan, and his presence, alongside Professor John LaMattina—another leading transplant surgeon from the University of Chicago—added immense value to the educational and clinical aspects of the operation.

Both professors provided real-time guidance to Dow’s transplant team and shared insights on advanced surgical techniques and evolving global practices in the field.

Vice Chancellor Dow University Professor Muhammad Saeed Quraishy commended the team on achieving yet another major milestone in the country’s medical history. He also expressed deep gratitude to the international faculty for their active participation and knowledge-sharing during the live transplant session.

Pro-Vice Chancellor Professor Jehan Ara Hassan, who was present throughout the broadcast, shared that the recipient hailed from Shahdadkot and had no financial means to undergo such a sophisticated surgery privately. The transplant was made possible entirely free of cost through the support of the Sindh government.

Professor Jahan Ara emphasized that the Dow University has now completed 190 liver transplants, all without charging patients, and more than 500 kidney transplants and dozens of bone marrow transplants. She noted that one of the key barriers to organ donation in Pakistan remains public perception, shaped largely by religious and cultural beliefs. To address this, the university is preparing a formal proposal.