Karachi: Chief Minister (CM) Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah on Saturday reaffirmed the provincial government’s commitment to strengthening specialised healthcare, medical research, and advanced cancer treatment while addressing the inaugural session of the 7th Annual Neuro-Oncology Symposium (7ANOS) at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi.
Highlighting the remarkable transformation of JPMC since its transfer to the Sindh government in 2011, the CM said the institution had evolved into one of Pakistan’s leading centres of excellence in healthcare, medical education, and research.
He emphasised that the government’s investments in JPMC, NICVD, NICH and other specialised institutions were aimed at ensuring that quality healthcare remained accessible to all citizens regardless of their financial means.
The symposium, organised by the Pakistan Society of Neuro-Oncology (PASNO) and the Pakistan Academy of Neurological Surgery (PANS) in collaboration with JPMC, Aga Khan University (AKU), the Brain Tumour Foundation of Pakistan (BTFPAK) and the Society of Medical Oncology Pakistan (SMOP), brought together renowned national and international experts, clinicians, researchers, healthcare professionals, trainees and patient advocates under the theme ‘Neuro-Oncology in the Real World: Challenges, Innovations, and Impact.’
The event was attended by Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab, PASNO and PANS President Prof. Syed Ather Enam, Executive Director JPMC Prof. Dr Khalid Sher, Professor Emeritus Dr Tariq Mahmood, Organising and Scientific Chair Dr Shumaila Arooj, Chairman Patient Aid Foundation-JPMC Mushtaq Chhapra, senior doctors, researchers and medical students.
Welcoming distinguished international delegates, the CM said global collaboration was essential for advancing medical science and improving patient outcomes. He noted that behind every diagnosis was a patient and a family seeking hope, and it was the collective responsibility of healthcare professionals, researchers and policymakers to ensure that scientific progress translated into better treatment and improved quality of life.
Recalling the transfer of JPMC to the Sindh government in 2011, Shah said the Sindh government had since continued investing heavily in public healthcare, enabling JPMC to expand its services and infrastructure significantly.
The CM paid tribute to philanthropists, donors and healthcare leaders, particularly Mushtaq Chhapra and the Patient Aid Foundation, for their contributions towards the modernisation of JPMC. He highlighted the successful partnership between the government and philanthropic organisations, under which public contributions had been matched by government support to accelerate healthcare development.
Speaking about specialised healthcare services, Mr Shah noted that Sindh’s institutions had achieved national and international recognition. Referring to the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), he said it was widely acknowledged for performing one of the largest numbers of primary angioplasty procedures under one roof anywhere in the world.
The CM also highlighted Sindh’s ongoing efforts to strengthen neurological and cancer care. He announced that the government was supporting the establishment of a dedicated institute for neurological diseases and thanked the provincial cabinet for approving the allocation of land free of cost for the project. He expressed confidence that in the coming years the proposed facility would emerge as a major centre for neurological treatment, research and academic exchange.
Emphasising the importance of innovation, Mr Shah said the world of medicine was advancing rapidly through artificial intelligence, precision medicine, advanced imaging technologies and robotics. He reiterated the government’s resolve to ensure that Sindh’s healthcare institutions remained aligned with global developments.
He described the installation of CyberKnife and TomoTherapy facilities at JPMC as a landmark achievement in cancer care, enabling highly precise and non-invasive treatment for cancer patients. These technologies, he said, placed JPMC among a select group of healthcare institutions offering some of the world’s most advanced radiation oncology services.
The CM stressed that neuro-oncology was among the most complex fields of medicine, requiring close coordination among neurosurgeons, neurologists, oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, radiation specialists, rehabilitation experts and nursing professionals. He said multidisciplinary collaboration was essential for delivering the highest standards of care to patients suffering from brain and spinal tumours.
He also underscored the importance of locally driven medical research, stating that Pakistan’s healthcare challenges required solutions informed by indigenous evidence and regional experience. He urged universities, teaching hospitals and research institutions to strengthen clinical research, generate meaningful data and promote innovation that directly benefits patients.
Addressing young doctors, trainees and medical students participating in the symposium, Mr Shah encouraged them to remain committed to learning, research and professional excellence. He urged them to maintain compassion and always remember the human dimension behind every medical diagnosis.
Addressing the gathering, Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab praised the Sindh government’s efforts in strengthening the healthcare sector and acknowledged the leadership of Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari in expanding access to quality medical services.
Earlier, Organising and Scientific Chair of 7ANOS Dr Shumaila Arooj said that innovation in neuro-oncology must ultimately translate into accessible, practical and patient-centred care. PASNO and PANS President Prof. Syed Ather Enam described the hosting of the symposium at JPMC as a historic milestone, saying it brought academic discussions directly into the public-sector healthcare system where thousands of brain tumour patients receive treatment annually.
Executive Director JPMC Prof. Dr Khalid Sher and Professor Emeritus Dr Tariq Mahmood reiterated JPMC’s commitment to academic excellence, research and advanced cancer care, while highlighting the institution’s progress over the past decade.
The two-day symposium features pre-conference workshops on surgical neuro-oncology, neuroradiology and imaging, tumour board discussions, patient and caregiver engagement, student competitions and a series of state-of-the-art lectures by leading national and international experts. Accredited with 10 Continuing Medical Education (CME) points by Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU), the conference is expected to contribute significantly to the advancement of neuro-oncology practice, research and multidisciplinary collaboration in Pakistan.
Concluding his address, the CM formally inaugurated the 7th Annual Neuro-Oncology Symposium and expressed hope that the discussions, research collaborations and exchange of knowledge during the conference would contribute to better treatment, improved care and renewed hope for patients and families affected by neurological cancers.