KARACHI: Dr Tahir Shamsi has recently passed away in Karachi after week-long suffering from a brain haemorrhage.
His funeral prayers will be offered after Zuhr prayers at 1:15 pm at Najam Masjid Tipu Sultan Road, Karachi.
Dr Shamsi was a renowned haematologist and 'pioneer' of bone marrow transplants in Pakistan. After undergoing surgery due to a sudden brain haemorrhage, he was in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of the Aga Khan University Hospital, and his condition was said to be critical.
Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho expressed deep sorrow over Dr Tahir Shamsi demise. She said that the demise of Dr Shamsi was a loss to both medicine and research.
"His efforts have led to bone marrow transplants in leukaemia treatments for many patients in Pakistan, and his services will be remembered", the minister said.
In 1996, Dr Tahir Shamsi introduced bone-marrow transplants in Pakistan. He completed 650 bone-marrow transplants and wrote over a hundred research articles.
Dr Shamsi arose with the idea of treating COVID-19 patients using plasma of those who recovered from the COVID-19 during the first wave of coronavirus.
In 2011, he established the National Institute for Blood Disease (NIBD) to treat blood-borne diseases. He was also the Director of the Stem Cell Program at NIBD. He had also attained a Fellowship of the Royal College of Pathologists.
In 2016, in recognition of his services, the Dow Graduates Association of North America heralded him with a lifetime achievement award.
