Peshawar
Rehman Medical Institute (RMI) has successfully performed 174 Cardiac Surgeries out of which 26 are the Pediatric Cardiac surgeries under the Sehat Card program, providing life-saving treatment to adults and children.
All Pediatric Cardiac surgeries were conducted by Dr. Tariq Sohail Babar, a renowned pediatric cardiac surgeon at RMI.
Commenting on the achievement, Dr. Tariq Sohail Babar stated, “All the children who underwent surgery at RMI under the Sehat Card program are recovering well, and most have been discharged in good health, bringing hope to their families.”
Every year, more than 60,000 babies in Pakistan are born with congenital heart disease (CHD)—a condition that includes various abnormalities such as leaky heart valves, missing or incomplete heart structures, and holes in the chamber partitions.
CHD symptoms often include irregular breathing, stunted growth, and weakness, making early diagnosis crucial for survival.
Dr. Tariq highlighted that early detection of CHD is possible during pregnancy, and with timely intervention, 85% of affected children can survive into adulthood. However, in developing countries like Pakistan, over 60% of children with CHD do not survive past their early years due to delayed diagnosis, financial constraints, and a severe lack of specialized healthcare facilities.
Despite having one of the highest CHD prevalence rates in the world, Pakistan has only few hospitals equipped to perform pediatric cardiac surgeries. Due to limited awareness and access to treatment, many children with CHD remain undiagnosed or untreated, putting their lives at serious risk.
RMI remains committed to bridging this healthcare gap by providing state-of-the-art pediatric cardiac care under the Sehat Card program, ensuring that more children receive timely and life-saving treatment.
