Tuesday, renowned hematologist and bone marrow transplantation (BMT) physician Dr. Tahir Shamsi passed away in Karachi. According to reports, he underwent surgery last week after suffering a brain hemorrhage.
Admitted to a private hospital after suffering a brain hemorrhage, Dr. Tahir Shamsi’s condition remained critical and doctors put him on the ventilator. The hospital administration confirmed his death earlier today.
To clarify, Dr Tahir Shamsi first introduced bone-marrow transplants in Pakistan in 1996. During his career, Dr Tahir Shamsi performed 650 bone-marrow transplant operations and wrote over 100 research articles.
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Moreover, in 2011, he established the National Institute for Blood Disease (NIBD) for the treatment of blood-related diseases. Most importantly, during the first wave of coronavirus, Dr Shamsi came up with the idea of treating COVID-19 patients using the plasma of those who recovered from the virus.
“The body of a COVID-19 patient creates antibodies to fight off the virus. These antibodies in the blood of a recovered patient could be used to boost the immunity of the newly infected people,” Dr. Tahir Shamsi had said.
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President Alvi grieves over Dr Shamsi’s demise
With Dr Tahir Shamsi among the top trends on Twitter, netizens are expressing their grief at the news. President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday expressed his grief over the death of renowned hematologist Professor Dr Tahir Shamsi. He prayed for the high ranks of the departed soul and expressed sympathy with the bereaved family. The president said Dr Shamsi rendered valuable services in health and medical research sectors.
“His contributions over bone-marrow transplant and blood cancer would always be remembered,” he further added.
صدرِ مملکت ڈاکٹر عارف علوی کا معروف ماہر امراضِ خون، پروفیسر ڈاکٹر طاہر شمسی، کے انتقال پر اظہار افسوس
اہل خانہ سے اظہارِ ہمدردی اور صبر جمیل کی دعا pic.twitter.com/UapGEfIbMs
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) December 21, 2021
Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar also expressed grief over the demise of the BMT physician. Additionally, PM Khan’s Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital honored Dr Shamsi as the pioneer of bone marrow transplantation in Pakistan.
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