Pakistan’s First Pulmonary Tuberculosis ICU Established in Karachi

The first ICU for Tuberculosis (TB) patients in Pakistan has been established at Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases, Dow University of Health Sciences—Karachi, which will provide free healthcare treatment to the patients.

On the occasion, VC Dow University Professor Muhammad Saeed Quraishy said that earlier the laboratory of OICD, which was in an abysmal condition has now been converted into a BSL (Bio Safety Level 3) i.e. tuberculosis treatment standard laboratory.

The Vice-Chancellor said that the inauguration of the first TB ICU in the country is another facility for the treatment which is equipped with modern technology. He mentioned that the ICU has currently been launched with a facility of 4 beds, and this facility will soon be expanded.

VC DUHS I hope things will work and we will contribute to the improvement of healthcare for TB patients, not just here in this hospital, but across the country. Moreover, Director OICD Prof. Iftikhar Ahmed said that earlier an integrated OPD facility for tuberculosis patients has been established so that patients can be treated under one roof.

He said in addition, OICD in collaboration with the World Health Organization, is also working on better access to TB Preventive Treatment (TPT), and now for TB patients the establishment of this ICU equipped with modern facilities is also a step to provide all facilities to the patients in one institution.

There is no ICU of this nature in Pakistan specifically for TB patients. According to health experts, once TB patients are admitted to an ICU, other general patients cannot be admitted there.