For children suffering from life-threatening heart rhythm disorders, a specialized program at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD) Karachi has emerged as a ray of hope. The facility has successfully completed 500 paediatric heart surgeries, marking a major milestone in Pakistan’s treatment of complex cardiac conditions among children.
The total cost of these advanced procedures is estimated at around Rs1 billion, but all treatments were provided to patients free of charge.
Symptoms such as breathlessness after walking a short distance, repeated fainting spells, unusually fast or slow heartbeats, and sudden deaths among seemingly healthy children and young people are linked to silent but potentially fatal heart rhythm disorders. Until a few years ago, treatment facilities for such conditions were extremely limited in Pakistan.
Through its paediatric electrophysiology program, NICVD has achieved a major milestone by successfully treating hundreds of children with complex heart conditions.
Dr Muhammad Mohsin, head of the program, said irregular heart rhythms in children are complex but treatable and are often caused by congenital or hereditary conditions.
He explained that the program treats children with abnormally slow heart rates, those suffering from unusually fast rhythms, and patients at risk of sudden cardiac arrest due to inherited disorders.
According to Dr Mohsin, treatment for a single patient can cost between Rs1 million and Rs1.5 million.
He added that awareness about these conditions has improved since 2021, with 30 to 35 patients now visiting the outpatient department daily and around 200 families remaining under regular follow-up.
