Sindh CM vows uninterrupted free cardiac care at NICVD amid Rs4.6bn deficit

Sindh CM assures uninterrupted free cardiac treatment at NICVD

KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has categorically stated that no disruption in free cardiac treatment at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) will be tolerated, reaffirming the provincial government’s commitment to protecting one of Pakistan’s most critical public healthcare institutions.

Chairing the 84th meeting of the NICVD Governing Body, the chief minister took a series of landmark decisions aimed at stabilising the institute financially, restoring its legal standing, strengthening governance, and expanding its life-saving services across Sindh and beyond.

NICVD facing Rs4.6bn deficit as costs rise

During the meeting, Executive Director NICVD Professor Tahir Saghir briefed participants on the hospital’s financial and administrative challenges, revealing that the institute is currently facing a funding deficit of approximately Rs4.6 billion due to rising operational, administrative, and service delivery costs.

Despite earlier approval of Rs10 billion, the shortfall has persisted, prompting urgent intervention to ensure uninterrupted patient care.

Rs15.5bn grant approved, legal status restored

To address immediate operational needs, the Governing Body approved a Rs15.5 billion grant-in-aid, enabling NICVD to continue providing free-of-cost cardiac treatment to patients from Sindh and other provinces.

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah also decided to restore the legal status of NICVD, directing that all legal ambiguities be resolved swiftly so the institution can function without administrative or regulatory hurdles.

“This world-class institution must continue serving the public without any hindrance,” the chief minister said.

Additional Rs3.5bn required in FY 2025–26

The meeting was informed that NICVD would require an additional Rs3.5 billion in the fiscal year 2025–26 to fully meet its operational requirements. The chief minister assured participants that necessary funds would be approved and released once procedural requirements are completed.

Related story: First patient in Pakistan recovers after nine days on ECMO support at NICVD Karachi

To support long-term sustainability, a committee led by Secretary Finance Fayaz Jatoi was constituted to examine NICVD’s business model and propose reforms. The CM assured that funding decisions would follow the committee’s recommendations.

Professional management reforms approved

In a move to further professionalise NICVD’s governance, the Governing Body approved the recruitment of a full-time Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) through a competitive, open-market process.

The chief minister directed the health department to frame recruitment rules before initiating the hiring process, emphasising transparency and institutional strengthening.

NICVD’s 2025 achievements highlighted

Professor Tahir Saghir also presented an overview of NICVD’s remarkable clinical achievements, underscoring its global standing in public cardiac care:

• 9,925 primary angioplasties performed in 2024, maintaining NICVD Karachi’s position as the largest primary angioplasty centre in the world
• Over 200 Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) procedures conducted free of cost, a service that costs nearly Rs4 million in private hospitals
• Expansion of paediatric cardiac services into Balochistan, with over 100 surgeries and 300 interventions performed for children
• More than 450 procedures completed under the Stroke Intervention Programme, preventing long-term disability and saving lives

The chief minister reviewed progress on key infrastructure projects, including:

• A new 300-bed Paediatric Cardiac Unit
• The upcoming Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases in Landhi, envisioned as a 1,200-bed facility and projected to become the world’s largest cardiac hospital

Business plan for NICVD–SICVD merger

The meeting concluded with directives to finalise the appointment of a consultancy firm to develop a comprehensive business plan for the merger and administrative streamlining of NICVD and SICVD, aimed at improving efficiency and long-term sustainability.

Reiterating the government’s stance, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah stressed that free cardiac care for heart patients will continue without interruption, regardless of financial or administrative challenges.

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