Shifa International Hospitals Explained

Shifa International Hospitals
Traded As:
KSE 100 component
Industry:Healthcare
Key People:Zeeshan Bin Ishtiaque (CEO)
Hq Location:Islamabad, Pakistan
Founded:1993
Founder:Zaheer Ahmad

Shifa International Hospitals Limited (SIH) is a Pakistani healthcare company that operates a group of hospitals. It is headquartered in Islamabad.[1] [2]

It is a multi-specialty tertiary care hospital with over 550 beds. The hospital performs operation of liver, kidney, and bone marrow transplant. It offers 640 slice CT scan. SIH runs two medical centers in Islamabad and is constructing a full-fledge hospital in Faisalabad.[3] [4]

History

Zaheer Ahmad, a Pakistani American medical doctor, is often credited as the founder of Shifa International Hospital. He also served as a chief executive at the hospital.[5]

The Hospital was incorporated on September 20, 1987 as a private limited company. It was converted to a public limited company on October 12, 1989. The construction activity began in 1988. Shifa was officially opened in 1993, with 8 OPD clinics and 36 beds.

As of 2018, about 85% of the liver transplant operations in Pakistan were performed at SIH, of which 700 organ transplants were done successfully. In 2018, the hospital suspended the transplant program due to fraud alleged by a patient's family.

Shifa National Hospital Faisalabad, a subsidiary of Shifa International Hospital Limited, began its construction in 2022.

Controversies

In a case involving alleged negligence, President Dr. Arif Alvi directed the Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) to ensure that Shifa International Hospital in Islamabad reimbursed Rs. 2.9 million to the family of a patient who died during the course of treatment. Additionally, the President upheld the Rs. 900,000 fine imposed on the hospital.[6] The investigation, prompted by a complaint from the patient's daughter, revealed the hospital's negligence, professional misconduct, and malpractice, leading to these actions being taken.[7]

In a significant case, an Islamabad court issued arrest warrants for a former consultant at Shifa International Hospital, Dr. Aasim Rahman. The patient, Hajira Bibi, claimed the hospital failed to diagnose her real disease and accused them of maltreatment and misdiagnosis. After being diagnosed with leprosy at a different hospital, she sought a refund and compensation totaling Rs15.5 million from Shifa under Islamabad consumer law.[8]

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) transferred a case to the Capital Development Authority (CDA) regarding Shifa International Hospital's alleged encroachment. The hospital was accused of violating building regulations in 2020 by encroaching on land near a nullah.[9] [10]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: ڈونر کی 'دھوکہ دہی'، اعضا کی پیوندکاری کا عمل معطل . Donor's cheating; organ transplants suspended. BBC News اردو .
  2. Web site: Shifa International Hospitals Limited . 16 November 2022 .
  3. Web site: About International Patients. Shifa International Hospitals Ltd.. 22 January 2018.
  4. Web site: شفا نیشنل ہسپتال فیصل آباد کی تعمیرکا آغاز کر دیا گیا . Construction of Shifa National Hospital Faisalabad has been started. February 2022 .
  5. News: Spying suspect: Doctor linked with Nabi Fai dies in Islamabad. The Express Tribune. 8 October 2011. 8 October 2011.
  6. Web site: Shifa International Hospital Ordered to Pay Rs. 3.8 Million Over Negligence Causing Girl's Death.
  7. Web site: Fine upheld: President orders SHIFA to refund Rs2.9m to patient's daughter. 29 January 2023.
  8. Web site: Warrants issued for rheumatologist in consumer complaint . 20 November 2016 .
  9. Web site: FIA Transfers Shifa Int. Hospital Encroachment Case to CDA - ProProperty.
  10. Web site: Dec 14, 2022 | FIA refers Shifa Hospital encroachment issue to CDA . 14 December 2022 .