My religion is love, humanity, my identity- Dr Rahim Bukhsh Bhatti’s decades-long service defies criticism

SUKKUR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Jun, 2026) From a single dispensary in a small Sindh town to an institution performing free liver, lung and bone marrow transplants, the journey of Captain Dr Rahim Bukhsh Bhatti has become synonymous with public service.

Born from what he calls “the soil of great souls”, Dr Bhatti, Director of Gambat Institute of Medical Sciences (GIMS), spent his lifetime “giving blessings and kindness, never spreading hurt or hatred”. His guiding principle, often quoted by colleagues and patients alike: “My religion is love, and humanity is my identity.”

Official records and hospital archives show Dr Bhatti began with a modest dispensary in his hometown of Gambat, District Khairpur, decades ago. Through relentless day and night work, that facility was transformed into GIMS, today recognized internationally for free organ transplants and burn care.

The institute now performs kidney, liver, bone marrow, cornea and lung transplants at zero cost to patients. According to data shared by GIMS administration, over 1,300 free liver transplants have been completed since 2016, when it became Pakistan’s only public-sector center offering the procedure free of charge. The hospital also runs Pakistan’s first free lung transplant program and a major burn center catering to lakhs of patients from across the region.

“Gambat has gained international recognition because of GIMS,” said a senior hospital official. “Patients who once had to travel abroad for transplants now find treatment here, without financial burden.”

Despite the institution’s growth, Dr Bhatti has faced sustained criticism in recent months. In a statement carried on GIMS’ official platforms, the doctor said: “What did he receive in return for his loyalty and dedication to Mother Sindh? Mostly criticism.

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Yet, he ignored all negativity and continued to serve his homeland.”

He added that Let people say whatever they want; I will continue serving humanity.”

GIMS administration has appealed to compassionate people, humanitarians, political leaders, social activists and well-wishers to stand with Dr Rahim Bukhsh Bhatti and help protect this great institution, calling for an end to what it termed a “media trial”.

The Associated Press of Pakistan (APP), the state-run news agency, recently documented GIMS’ services in a video report, describing the Gambat Burn Center as “a beacon of hope for lakhs of people”. APP noted that the hospital’s 24/7 trauma and burn units manage even 70% burn cases, and that its OPD sees over 5,000 patients every three days.

Divisional Commissioner Sukkur Abid Saleem Qureshi, after an inspection of GIMS, also expressed satisfaction with patient care and facilities, according to reports carried by multiple Sindhi newspapers.

For Dr Bhatti, the focus remains on service. The walls of GIMS’ orthopaedic OT carry a quote: “As Orthopaedic Surgeons, we are craftsmen of the body, shaping lives through the power of restoration.” Colleagues say the philosophy applies across departments — from cardiac surgery started in 2012 to the hospital’s cancer care and nuclear medicine units.

GIMS is not a building. GIMS is a mission, read a message shared by the hospital. “And the mission is: Love. Humanity. Service".

As debates continue around the institution, patients at GIMS continue to receive treatment without cost. For Dr Bhatti, the work started in Gambat decades ago remains unchanged, serving the poor, one patient at a time.