Growth and development at NICVD under the helm of Nadeem Qamar.

Exclusive interview with Professor Nadeem Qamar - Executive Director, NICVD

Profile:

Professor Nadeem Qamar has had a 25-year long and enduring journey with National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), Karachi. After his MBBS degree from Liaquat Medical College, Jamshoro in 1984, Professor Nadeem Qamar went abroad to complete his residency in Internal Medicine from Franklin Square Hospital, USA and received his fellowships in Cardiology and Angioplasty from McGill University Canada and Ottawa Heart Institute Canada respectively. He has trained countless cardiology fellows specializing in Interventional Cardiology and Catheterization Laboratory Techniques, has authored many research papers and is a lifetime member of Pakistan Cardiac Society and Pakistan Hypertension League. Professor Qamar currently is leading the team as Executive Director of National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) and also fulfilling the responsibilities of Secretary to Governing Body.

PAKISTAN and GULF ECONOMIST had an exclusive conversation with Professor Nadeem Qamar. Excerpts of the conversation are as follows:

Ever since I became the Executive Director in February 2015, NICVD has changed. From one hospital, we are 28 units in different parts of Sindh: 10 hospitals and 18 chest pain units. The treatment offered at NICVD is completely free in all the satellite centers and chest pain units. Karachi NICVD is completely free for all general ward patients; only a small number of patients in Karachi are private patients and pay by choice. NICVD Karachi is the world's largest single center for primary angioplasty (during heart attack). Last year we did about 9000 primary angioplasties in Karachi alone. There is 24/7 availability of cardiologist to perform procedures. There is development of 3 ICUS, HDUs in all 4 medical wards besides adding several...