From Bangladesh to Gambat: Bangladeshi patient seeks liver transplant at Sindh hospital

SUKKUR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th May, 2026) A 43-year-old resident of Ahmedpur in Dhaka, Bangladesh has traveled 1,500km across the border to Sindh’s Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS) Hospital in hopes of receiving a liver transplant, citing limited facilities and high costs in Bangladesh.

Emrul Hasan said his liver failed due to hepatitis, resulting in fluid accumulation in his abdomen. With transplant options scarce at home, he searched online for treatment abroad.

“The first result that came up, with the highest success rate, was the liver transplant centre at GIMS Gambat. And it was completely free,” Hasan told this correspondent.

To verify the claim, he contacted a patient from outside Pakistan who had undergone a transplant at GIMS three years ago. “He told me, ‘I had my liver transplant at GIMS completely free, and today, Alhamdulillah, I am living a healthy life,’” Hasan said.

GIMS is among the few hospitals worldwide that provide both liver and kidney transplants free of charge. Hasan credited the hospital’s director, Dr. Rahim Bakhsh Bhatti, for establishing the centre, which he said now draws patients from across the region. “I salute Dr. Bhatti’s vision. People from Bangladesh are coming here for treatment because of it,” he said.

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Hasan booked an online consultation with Dr. Abdul Wahab Dogar at the GIMS Liver Transplant Unit. After reviewing his medical reports, Dr. Dogar confirmed his eligibility for a transplant the following day.

With the necessary legal documents and the appointment, Hasan approached the Pakistani embassy in Dhaka. “Embassy officer Zia-ul-Hassan also helped us. He said all organ transplants at GIMS are free and we would face no difficulty there. Within days, I got my visa,” he said.

Hasan arrived at GIMS with his wife, who is donating part of her liver for the procedure. “This is my second day here. The doctors are specialists and humane, and the staff’s attitude is very friendly and supportive,” he said.

Dr. Nadeem Bajkani, liver transplant physician at the GIMS Liver Transplant Unit, said the hospital’s role extends beyond clinical care. “Treatment is not just about the illness, but about mending broken hopes. Some journeys are not about crossing borders, but about finding a new life,” he said.

Hasan said he hopes to return to Bangladesh with his wife after a successful operation. “Every path taken for a liver or kidney transplant is a story of hope, courage and the desire to live again,” he said.