New Delhi: India and Pakistan are reported to be putting decades of acrimony behind them only now, but a hospital in New Delhi has been contributing to Pakistani health in a major way for quite some time.
Indraprastha Apollo Hospital has recently achieved the distinction of being the only one in the country to successfully complete 200 liver transplant surgeries on patients from Pakistan.
Twelve-year-old boy, Syed Sheharyar Ali from Karachi is the 200th patient from the country, which has no liver transplant surgery hospital so far. India, on the other hand, has kept its long-time commitment by providing affordable treatment to South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation countries.
Sheharyar was brought to the hospital on October 2 in a critical condition from Pakistan. His mother Zainab Shujaat told Gulf News, "Suffering from chronic liver disease for the past three years, my son's condition deteriorated. But at the behest of the Indian doctors, our visa came through within two days."
"They have given him a new lease of life for which we shall always be grateful to them and the country. People here are so loving that I have decided to visit India again after six months."
Sheharyar was treated by a multi-disciplinary team of doctors led by Prof. Anupam Sibal, senior paediatric gastroenterologist and group medical director. The liver transplant was carried out on October 6 by Prof Subash Gupta, chief liver transplant surgeon.
Prof Gupta said, "We feel a sense of accomplishment by the faith and courage shown by patients, who travel long-distance for the treatment."
Cheaper
Prof Sibal said, "The part of liver was donated by Sheharyar's mother and his recovery has been remarkable. The family is ready to fly back home."
Why India? "Whatever best is handled in the West, is handled equally well in our country. Plus, India is attractive for economic reasons. The cost of liver transplant surgery in the United States is Rs10.5 million (Dh776,000), whereas in India it costs only Rs200,000," he said.
Talking about the special bond he now shares with the family, Prof Sibal said, "It never felt they were from a different nationality. In fact, all Pakistanis who have been treated by us have said they feel at home in the country."
776 liver transplants conducted
Indraprastha Apollo Hospital first performed the successful liver transplant in India in 1998. Ever since it has performed 776 liver transplants from across the globe.
