Professor Dr Adib Rizvi, founder of the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), received the British Medical Journal (BMJ) for his exceptional contribution to the medical sciences in South Asia.
The prize, awarded during a ceremony in New Delhi, was accepted on behalf of Dr. Rizvi by Dr. Sanjay Nagra, co -president of the BMJ Advisor Board.
Dr. Nagra praised Dr. Rizvi’s efforts to establish a health system offering free, accessible and fair treatment in Pakistan, qualifying it as a model for developing countries.
Addressing the public via Zoom, Dr. Rizvi expressed its gratitude for honor and congratulated the role of BMJ in promoting medical education and research.
He urged the countries of the region to look at beyond the political differences for the improvement of marginalized communities and the improvement of public health results.
Dr. Adib Rizvi is an eminent surgeon of Pakistani transplantation, humanitarian and founder of the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT). Its pioneering efforts have considerably transformed the Pakistan health care landscape, in particular in the areas of urology and organ transplantation.
In 1970, Dr. Rizvi launched an eight -bed urology room at the Karachi civilian hospital, which laid the bases of Siut. Over the years, SIUT has become the largest center for urology, nephrology and transplantation of urology, transplantation of South Asia, offering entirely free services.
The Institute now deals with more than one million patients per year, providing services such as dialysis, lithotripsy, oncology treatments and organ transplants.
Dr. Rizvi was an ardent defender of ethical medical practices. He played a central role in the promulgation of the law on the transplantation of human organs and tissues in 2010, which legalized the donation of cadaveric organs and reduced trade in organs contrary to Pakistan. His efforts played a decisive role in normalizing organ transplantation in the country.
Recognition and awards
Dr. Rizvi’s unshakable commitment to humanitarian health care has earned him many distinctions, including:
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Ramon Magsaysay Award (1998)
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Hamdan prize for volunteers in humanitarian medical services (2004)
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Who’s Shousha Prize (2008)
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Lifetime production prize by the Sindh Association of North America (2015)
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Nishan-i-Imtiaz (2018), one of the highest civil prices in Pakistan