KARACHI: Dr Adeeb Rizvi, the founder of the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), was hospitalised late on Saturday.
Reports indicate the 86-year-old philanthropist was hospitalised at the SIUT. However, limited information is available at the moment.
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Born Syed Adeebul Hasan Rizvi, he has played a huge role in advancing medical services in the fields of urology and organ transplantation in Pakistan, especially Karachi.
Dr Adeeb Rizvi was born September 1, 1938 in British India. He graduated from the renowned Dow Medical College in Karachi in 1968. After completing his postgraduate training in the United Kingdom (UK), Dr Rizvi returned to his home country and established a small urology ward at the Civil Hospital in 1970.
The move laid the groundwork for what would later become the SIUT, which has since gone on to become the largest kidney transplant centre in entire country.
SIUT expanded significantly under Dr Rizvi, with the hospital now offering a wide range services. This includes urology, nephrology, and transplant surgery.
The medical institute also provides free medical care to patients, and serves over half a million patients annually.
The SIUT would achieve a huge milestone when it performed the country’s first successful liver transplant on a new-born in 2003.
Despite facing threats to his safety in the past, Dr Adeeb Rizvi continued to advocate for improved medical services and access for everyone regardless of their financial background.
The surgeon was instrumental in establishing satellite centres across the country. This helped thousands of people in remote regions to finally have access to dialysis and other medical services.
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As of now, details regarding the nature of Dr Rizvi’s hospitalisation have not been disclosed. The public is awaiting further updates on his condition.