Federal Minister for National Health Services Syed Mustafa Kamal has launched Pakistan’s first public sector Pulsed Field Ablation programme at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences in Islamabad, marking a significant milestone in the country’s cardiac care infrastructure. The minister also inaugurated Phase One of the upgraded PIMS Cardiac Centre and introduced a Patient Facilitation Assistant Service within the hospital’s Emergency Department as part of the same event.
The new programme uses the Farapulse Pulsed Field Ablation System, developed by American medical technology company Boston Scientific and introduced in Pakistan through a partnership with Ferozsons Laboratories Limited. Unlike traditional radiofrequency or cryotherapy based ablation techniques, Pulsed Field Ablation uses ultra fast electrical pulses to selectively destroy the abnormal heart muscle cells responsible for irregular heart rhythms while preserving surrounding healthy tissue. Experts say this precision significantly lowers the risk of injury to the oesophagus, phrenic nerve, and pulmonary veins, resulting in safer procedures, shorter wait times, and faster patient recovery compared to older ablation methods.
Atrial fibrillation remains the most common form of irregular heart rhythm worldwide and frequently leads to serious complications including strokes and heart failure. Professor Brigadier Doctor Azmat Hayat, Head of Cardiac Electrophysiology at PIMS, estimated that between three and five million Pakistanis currently live with the condition, with many remaining undiagnosed until a serious medical emergency occurs. With this launch, Pakistan becomes the first country in the region to introduce Pulsed Field Ablation technology within the public healthcare sector, with Doctor Hayat noting that the system has demonstrated success rates approaching 99 percent in appropriately selected patients based on international clinical data.
During the launch event, four patients successfully underwent the new procedure, including patients travelling from Islamabad, Mirpur in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and Mardan, reflecting the programme’s reach beyond the capital alone. The upgraded PIMS Cardiac Centre was constructed at a cost of Rs7.2 billion, with an additional Rs900 million invested in facility upgrades. PIMS Project Director Professor Doctor Akhtar Bandesha confirmed that eligible heart patients will receive the advanced treatment completely free of cost through the public hospital.
The launch comes as PIMS continues to manage a substantial daily patient load, with the minister noting that the hospital treats between 7,000 and 9,000 patients each day, while total daily footfall of patients and attendants reaches between 30,000 and 40,000 people. To help ease this burden, the government is currently revitalising 28 Basic Health Units across Islamabad, aiming to strengthen primary healthcare access and reduce pressure on tertiary care hospitals such as PIMS. The minister also emphasised the need for stronger local governance structures, improved access to safe drinking water, and a greater national focus on disease prevention. The inauguration ceremony was attended by senior medical officials from PIMS, Ferozsons Laboratories Chief Executive Officer Usman Khalid Waheed, and diplomatic representatives including the United States Chargé d’Affaires to Pakistan and the United States Consul General in Karachi.
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