SUKKUR – Pakistan is facing a cardiovascular health emergency, with heart diseases now claiming nearly 400,000 lives each year—over 30 percent of all annual deaths—prompting an urgent call from experts and policymakers to shift the country’s healthcare focus toward prevention and early diagnosis.
“This is no longer just a health issue; it’s a national development challenge,” warned Dr. Raj Kumar, President of the Pakistan Cardiac Society (PCS), speaking at the society’s “Leaders Track” academic session held in Sukkur. “The disturbing rise in advanced coronary artery disease among people in their 30s and 40s is a red flag.”
Dr. Kumar attributed the surge in cardiovascular disease to a mix of sedentary lifestyles, poor diet, tobacco use, uncontrolled diabetes, and a general lack of public awareness about heart health. He stressed that Pakistan can no longer afford a reactive model of care that prioritizes treatment over prevention.
The PCS “Leaders Track” conference, organized in collaboration with Pharmevo—an industry leader in promoting medical education—brought together cardiologists, physicians, postgraduate trainees, and students from across Sindh. The gathering featured interactive sessions on complex cardiac cases, evolving treatment protocols, and regional challenges in delivering quality heart care.
A key focus of the discussions was the shortage of trained cardiologists in remote and underserved areas, leading to delayed diagnoses and limited access to life-saving interventions. “We need to educate not only patients but also our healthcare workforce,” Dr. Kumar emphasized. “That’s exactly what Leaders Track is designed to do.”
Dr. Syed Fayyaz Mujtaba, Coordinator of PCS’s Larkana Chapter and lead organizer of the Sukkur session, highlighted the importance of decentralizing medical education. “Programs like this ensure that doctors outside major urban centers can stay updated on clinical advancements and standard practices,” he said.
Participants also tackled the disproportionate cardiovascular disease burden in rural Pakistan, calling for stronger primary healthcare systems and targeted screening programs. The session included multidisciplinary panel discussions, case-based learning, and specialized modules on interventional cardiology.
The event’s corporate partner, Pharmevo, received praise for its continued investment in professional development. “Continuous medical education isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity,” said Samer Iqbal Jafri, Director of Marketing & Sales at Pharmevo. “Through our collaboration with PCS, we aim to create knowledge platforms that have real, measurable impact on patient outcomes.”
Jafri added that Pharmevo remains committed to long-term collaborations with healthcare institutions to raise medical standards across Pakistan.
In his concluding remarks, Dr. Kumar called for a broader, sustained national effort to address the cardiovascular epidemic. “We can’t wait for healthcare providers to seek out training,” he said. “We must bring education to them—especially in underserved regions. Prevention, awareness, and early intervention must become national priorities.”
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