Dr. Adib Rizvi Receives BMJ Special Recognition Award

KARACHI: Professor Dr. Adib Rizvi, a distinguished surgeon and philanthropist, has been honored with the British Medical Journal (BMJ) Special Recognition Award for his remarkable service to medical science and healthcare in South Asia.

The BMJ, a prominent medical publication based in the UK with over a century of history, annually acknowledges individuals, researchers, and institutions demonstrating outstanding contributions to medicine.

The award presentation occurred at a recent event in New Delhi. Dr. Sanjay Nagra, Co-Chair of the BMJ Advisory Board, lauded Dr. Rizvi’s pioneering work in establishing an equitable and accessible healthcare system in Pakistan, utilizing a creative partnership model between the government and the community while reading the citation.

Dr. Nagra also acknowledged Rizvi’s steadfast dedication to providing free, high-quality medical care to the wider population with respect and dignity, irrespective of caste, color, or religion.

Dr. Nagra accepted the award on behalf of Dr. Rizvi, who addressed the audience via Zoom, expressing his sincere appreciation to the journal for its significant contribution to advancing medical education and related research.

He urged the editorial board to support and encourage other regional health institutions to emulate the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) model to enhance healthcare for the broader population.

He emphasized the importance of setting aside political differences for the welfare of the underprivileged.

SIUT, founded by Dr. Rizvi and his colleagues at Civil Hospital Karachi approximately five decades ago, has evolved into a cutting-edge medical facility in the country, specializing in urology, nephrology, transplantation, and associated fields.

Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta, a Pakistani pediatrician, also spoke at the event, which was attended virtually by Kamran Abbasi, Editor of BMJ.