Officials condole death of health administrator Dr Seemin Jamali

Karachi: People from different walks of life, including top government authorities have condoled the death of Dr Seemin Jamali, the most notable female practitioner and administrator of the public health system in Sindh.

Dr Jamali had been battling intestinal cancer for the past two years. She was under treatment at a private hospital in Karachi. She was the head of the largest public sector hospital in Karachi for five years.

She retired as the Executive-Director of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi in 2021. Earlier, she served as the in-charge of the emergency section of the JMPC for many years.

She earned the title of “Iron Lady” on the basis of her years-long services at the JPMC as she remained steadfast in attending to the victims of numerous accidents and terrorist incidents in the city who were brought to her hospital for emergency lifesaving treatment.

She was a known figure on the basis of her frequent interactions with the media representatives who contacted her after every major sabotage incident or accident in the city for getting firsthand information about the status of victims.

Dr Jamali obtained her MBBS degree from Nawabshah in 1986 and remained associated with the Civil Hospital, Karachi. She later joined the cardiac surgery unit of the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Karachi as its registrar.

Dr Jamali joined the JPMC as a medical officer in 1988. She also served as the registrar of the medicine ward of the JPMC. Dr Jamali was promoted to grade-21 after she was posted as the head of the JPMC.

The federal government awarded her the prestigious civil award of Tamgh-e-Imtiaz in 2018. Her services at the JPMC during the coronavirus emergency were also recognised by the World Health Organisation. The Sindh Police and many other organisations awarded her medals and awards in recognition of her untiring services to ensure the safety of public health in Karachi.

After retirement, the Pakistan Army also awarded her the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel. She also served as a member of the Sindh Public Service Commission.

After her demise, a number of representative associations of medical professionals and practitioners widely praised Dr Jamali’s services in the field of medicine and public health.

Foreign Minister, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, praised her services to protect public health during the coronavirus emergency.

While condoling her death, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah praised Dr Jamali as a courageous and daring professional who served at the public hospitals in Karachi.

Sindh Governor, Kamran Khan Tessori, in his condolence message, said that the JPMC had become an exemplary public health institution under her leadership.