Gambat Institute of Medical Science is Pakistan’s First Public Free Transplant Revolution and Pharmaceutical Milestone
- Patients treated at GIMS come from: 47% Sindh, 34% Punjab, 15% Balochistan, 4% Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and others from Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, Islamabad, and Afghanistan
By Ramesh Raja
In the quiet town of Gambat, on Station Road in District Khairpur Mirs, stands an institution that has fundamentally altered the medical landscape of Pakistan. The Pir Abdul Qadir Shah Jeelani Institute of Medical Sciences, known nationwide simply as GIMS, is not just another public hospital. It is a declaration that world-class medicine can exist in rural Sindh, and that advanced organ transplantation does not have to be a privilege reserved for the wealthy.
GIMS is a public-sector teaching hospital affiliated with the Government of Sindh. Its mission is ambitious and unequivocal: provide high-quality healthcare free of cost, train the next generation of medical professionals, and advance research while serving the broader community. What began as a modest facility has evolved into one of Pakistan’s most advanced tertiary-care institutions, and the country’s first public center offering five major organ transplants free of cost.
The Architect of the Transformation
At the center of this transformation stands Dr. Rahim Bux Bhatti, a physician whose career spans more than five decades.
Born on March 1, 1946, in Gambat, Dr. Bhatti received his early education locally before earning his medical degree from Liaquat Medical College, University of Sindh. In 1971, he joined the Pakistan Army as a Captain (Medical Officer), serving for three years before transitioning to the Sindh Health Department in 1974. His posting to a dispensary in Gambat marked the beginning of a journey that would ultimately redefine healthcare in the region.
Rather than seeking opportunities abroad or in major urban centers, Dr. Bhatti invested his energy in his hometown. Through persistent administrative effort, institutional planning, and expansion of services, he converted a small public health facility into a transplant powerhouse. In recognition of his services, he received Pakistan’s Pride of Performance award.
Supporters regard him as a humanitarian visionary. Critics emphasize the need for institutional systems beyond individual leadership. Both views underscore the undeniable reality: GIMS bears the imprint of his determination.
Comprehensive Medical Services Under One Roof
Today, GIMS offers a full spectrum of tertiary-care services:
- General Medicine and Surgery
- Advanced Cardiac Care and Cardiac Surgery (established 2012)
- Orthopedic Department (established 2015)
- Neurosurgery
- Intensive Care Units and Neonatal Care
- Emergency and Trauma Services
- Diagnostic Imaging (CT scan, MRI, angiography)
- Advanced laboratory and pathology services
- Interventional Radiology
- Nuclear Medicine Cancer Care and Research Center (launched 2022)
- Rapid Response and expanded ICU units (2019–2021)
The institution operates modern operating theaters, dedicated transplant ICUs, specialized wards, and structured emergency services. Patients from across Pakistan travel to Gambat for treatment that would otherwise cost millions of rupees in private or overseas facilities.
Pakistan’s First Five-Organ Free Transplant Center
GIMS achieved national distinction by becoming Pakistan’s first public-sector institution to provide free transplants of five major organs.
- Liver Transplant Unit (Established 2016)
Over 1,300 liver transplants have reportedly been performed free of cost, with success rates comparable to international benchmarks. Plans are underway to increase annual capacity to 450 procedures through the proposed Gambat Liver Tower.
- Kidney Transplant Program
Thousands of patients have received life-saving kidney transplants, positioning GIMS among the leading public institutions in renal care.
- Bone Marrow Transplant
More than 100–200 bone marrow transplants have been completed, offering hope to patients suffering from thalassemia and hematological cancers.
- Cornea Transplants
Vision has been restored to hundreds who once faced permanent blindness.
- Lung Transplant Unit
GIMS established Pakistan’s first dedicated public-sector lung transplant center, marking a historic advancement in the country’s transplant medicine.
Patients treated at GIMS come from:
- 47% Sindh
- 34% Punjab
- 15% Balochistan
- 4% Khyber Pakhtunkhwa
- Others from Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Kashmir, Islamabad, and Afghanistan
This nationwide reach places GIMS alongside institutions such as the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation and the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, which pioneered free large-scale healthcare in Sindh.
Medical Education and Institutional Expansion
Beyond clinical services, GIMS functions as a teaching institution offering:
- MBBS Program
- BS Nursing
- BS Medical Technology
- Human Nutrition and Dietetics
- FCPS and MCPS training
- House jobs and residency programs
Its campus includes digital libraries, student laboratories, lecture halls, and expansion plans featuring a 1,000-seat auditorium, postgraduate center, stem cell therapy unit, and a 200-room guest house to accommodate attendants free of cost.
The broader vision is even more ambitious: a 1,000-acre Gambat Health City, potentially including biomedical engineering programs and a public-sector pharmaceutical manufacturing unit.
Pharmaceutical Industry: Sindh’s Pride, Pakistan’s Leap Forward
GIMS has made history by establishing Pakistan’s first public-sector pharmaceutical industry in Gambat. More than just a facility, this initiative represents a bold stride toward “health freedom” for the nation’s citizens.
- Affordable Medicines, Accessible Care: Life-saving medicines will no longer be priced beyond the reach of low-income patients. GIMS is ensuring that quality treatment is a right, not a privilege.
- National Self-Reliance: By producing essential medicines domestically, Pakistan reduces dependence on foreign pharmaceutical suppliers, strengthening healthcare sovereignty.
- Innovation and Research: Beyond manufacturing, the facility will conduct cutting-edge research on emerging diseases, fostering scientific advancement and public health preparedness.
- Realizing a Vision: This milestone is a testament to Dr. Rahim Bux Bhatti’s vision, the man who transformed Gambat into a landmark of medical excellence on the global map.
Unlike private pharmaceutical companies driven primarily by profit, GIMS’ pharmaceutical initiative sets a new benchmark: medicine as a service to humanity. Soon, life-saving drugs produced here will reach hospitals across Pakistan, elevating patient care and redefining the standards of public healthcare.
Naming and Public Perception
The institution’s official name honors Pir Abdul Qadir Shah Jeelani, following a Sindh Assembly resolution moved by Pir Fazal Shah Jeelani after his father’s passing. Historically, the Jeelani family has held significant spiritual and political influence in Gambat and surrounding areas.
However, public sentiment continues to identify the institution primarily as GIMS. For many citizens, its identity is rooted in medical achievement rather than political naming.
Challenges, Criticism, and Accountability
No institution of this magnitude operates without scrutiny. GIMS has faced:
- Allegations regarding emergency preparedness after a reported late-night fatality
- Complaints concerning transplant screening transparency
- Petitions alleging recruitment irregularities and nepotism
While no final judicial ruling has conclusively established wrongdoing, governance experts emphasize that public institutions must maintain strict transparency, independent audits, and merit-based recruitment systems to sustain credibility.
There are also concerns regarding accessibility. Although treatment is officially free, some observers argue that structured preference mechanisms should ensure the poorest patients receive priority. Equitable access must not only exist; it must be visibly structured and transparent.
Sustainability and the Future
GIMS operates largely through Sindh Government funding. As transplant medicine remains resource-intensive, sustainability will be a defining challenge. Key questions include:
- Long-term funding security
- Annual transplant budgets and per-patient cost transparency
- Institutional succession planning
- Strengthening governance systems beyond personality-based leadership
The future of GIMS depends on converting a visionary-led model into a fully institutionalized, accountable framework.
Conclusion: A Defining Chapter in Sindh’s Medical History
GIMS is neither a flawless miracle nor a failed experiment. It is a bold public-sector success story still in evolution.
It demonstrates that advanced transplant medicine can exist in rural Pakistan. It has saved thousands from death or financial devastation. It has trained medical professionals and inspired public confidence in what government healthcare can achieve.
At the same time, it stands at a crucial crossroads where transparency, accessibility, and governance must mature alongside expansion.
If strengthened institutionally, GIMS can become a global model of equitable transplant medicine. If complacency replaces reform, its reputation could face avoidable strain.
The story of GIMS is ultimately a story of possibility, proof that determination, public funding, and structured vision can transform healthcare in Pakistan. The responsibility now lies not only with leadership, but with policymakers, professionals, and civil society to ensure that this beacon of hope burns brighter, fairer, and stronger in the decades ahead.
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The author of this article, Engr. Ramesh Raja, is a Civil Engineer, visionary planner, PMP certified and literary enthusiast with a passion for art and recreation. He can be reached at engineer.raja@gmail.com
