SICVD opens new chest pain unit in Gulshan-e-Hadeed

IV Report

KARACHI: The Sindh Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (SICVD) inaugurated its 29th Chest Pain Unit (CPU) at Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Bin Qasim Town, Karachi, on May 12. The facility, equipped with advanced diagnostic tools and staffed by trained professionals, is the latest addition to a rapidly expanding network that has already served over 1.7 million patients in the last seven years.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, SICVD Executive Director Prof Dr Jawaid Akbar Sial highlighted the pivotal role of the CPUs in saving lives across the province. “With the establishment of this latest CPU, we are bringing world-class, 24/7 cardiac emergency services right to the doorstep of the people of Gulshan-e-Hadeed,” he remarked. “All services at SICVD facilities, including this new unit, are offered entirely free of cost with the generous support of the Sindh government.”

The event was graced by Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab, who formally inaugurated the new facility alongside Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad and senior SICVD officials. Describing the CPU as “a gift from the Sindh Government to the people of Karachi,” Mayor Wahab lauded the provincial government's commitment to delivering high-quality healthcare services at the grassroots level. “We are ensuring that quality services reach every citizen, and this CPU is a testament to that promise,” he told media representatives.

The Gulshan-e-Hadeed CPU, the 19th such facility in Karachi, is housed in a specially designed container and outfitted with modern cardiac diagnostic equipment and emergency care infrastructure. It will provide immediate medical intervention for cardiac emergencies, particularly heart attacks, with round-the-clock availability of trained staff. Patients who are stabilised after initial treatment will be swiftly shifted to SICVD's tertiary care centres across Sindh for advanced interventions such as primary angioplasty, according to an official handout of the institute.

Over the past seven years, SICVD’s innovative CPU model—where units are developed in large containers and strategically placed across densely populated areas—has become a cornerstone of accessible cardiac care in the province. According to Dr Sial, “Thousands of patients who experienced heart attacks have received timely care at these CPUs, many of whom were later shifted to our main facilities for life-saving procedures.”

The inauguration ceremony concluded with a tour of the new facility, where dignitaries interacted with healthcare staff and reviewed the diagnostic and emergency equipment installed at the unit.

Photo courtesy: SICVD, KMC