Dr Tahir Shamsi, pioneer of bone marrow transplant in Pakistan, passes away

Karachi: Dr Tahir Shamsi, renowned haematologist of Pakistan, passed away on Tuesday morning at a private hospital in Karachi after brief illness.

Dr Shamsi, 59, considered a pioneer of bone marrow transplant in Pakistan, was hospitalised on December 17, 2021 at Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, after suffering a brain haemorrhage.

Born in February 1962, Dr Shamsi was a graduate of Dow Medical College, Karachi and did his post-graduation from the UK. He memorised Holy Quran when he was 8.

He was the author of 43 research papers published in international journals and also wrote seven books.

He was a professor of medicine and worked as a clinical haematologist and bone marrow transplant physician. He was associated with the National Institute of Blood Diseases & Bone Marrow Transplantation in Karachi as a medical director, consultant haematologist, and transplant physician.

In 1995, he performed the first bone marrow transplant in Pakistan while treating a 19-year-old blood cancer patient belonging to Karachi. In 2019, Dr Shamsi was awarded a certificate of appreciation from the President of Pakistan.

During the recent coronavirus health emergency, he was a leading advocate and medical practitioner who used the method of plasma therapy to treat patients of COVID-19. He appealed to the Pakistani government to adopt this method to treat coronavirus patients.

In his condolence message, President Dr Arif Alvi euologised the services of late Dr Shamsi in the field of medicine and medical research.

He said that efforts of Dr Shami to perform bone marrow transplant and treat patients of blood diseases in Pakistan would always be remembered.

In her condolence message, Sindh Health Minister, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, said the fields of research and medicine had suffered a major setback due to the demise of Dr Shamsi.