KIHD is a public-sector tertiary-care and teaching cardiac hospital located in Federal B Area, Karachi. In operation since June 2005, it currently maintains around 170 beds and is affiliated with the Karachi Municipal Corporation. It functions as a center for cardiac treatment, research, prevention, and training at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
đź“Ť Location & Campus
The institute is situated centrally in Karachi’s Federal B Area (Block 16), accessible via road and public transport. The campus includes emergency and surgical facilities, catheterization labs, wards, and a nursing school.
🏥 Infrastructure & Capacity
- Approximately 170 beds, including emergency, CCU, ICUs, medical/surgical and private wards.
- Facilities include a 20–25 bedded emergency hall, CCU (20 beds), two catheterization labs, two surgical theaters, ECHO, ETT, and a nuclear imaging department.
- Rehabilitation services, research dept, routine lab, and blood bank are also present.
⚙️ Clinical & Diagnostic Services
- Emergency Department: Open 24/7 with ECG/BP monitors, oxygen, suction, defibrillators, and female patient zones. Serves ~73,000 annual visits.
- CCU: A 20-bed intensive cardiac care unit equipped with monitors, ventilators, defibrillators. :contentReference[oaicite:8]{index=8}
- OPD: Separate male/female clinics; over 100,000 annual visits.
- Catheterization Lab: Two angio labs handling ~3,000 diagnostic and ~300 PCI procedures yearly.
- Nuclear Cardiology: Operational since Dec 2008 with stress labs and hot-waiting areas.
- ECG, ECHO, ETT & Holter labs: Fully equipped settings with trained staff.
- Radiology & Lab: X-ray, portable imaging, biochemical and hematology labs, with MI markers like troponin-I processed within 45 minutes.
🎓 Education & Training
Recognized for postgraduate training in cardiology and cardiac surgery (FCPS), KIHD offers diploma programs for technicians (cath-lab, anesthesia, biomedical engineering), and houses a nursing institute and digital library.
âś… Strengths & Recent Upgrades
- A comprehensive public cardiac care hub with integrated labs, emergency, and cath facilities.
- May 2024: Inaugurated a “Blue Code” intensive care ward and nursing school, with two cath labs reactivated.
- August 2023: Plans shared to model KIHD like NICVD, including chest pain unit and enhanced nursing training.
âš Challenges & Areas for Improvement
- Reports of dysfunctional angiography machines and equipment delays, impacting free emergency services.
- Raised patient charges in recent years (e.g., angioplasty, bypass) due to funding gaps
- Needs structured expansion of chest pain units and further modernization.
❓ FAQs – KIHD
Is it open 24/7?
Yes — emergency, cath-lab floors and critical services run around the clock; OPDs mostly daytime.
Can I get an angiography here?
Yes — cath lab provides angiography and angioplasty; subsidized rates are available for low-income patients.
Are there training programs?
Yes — accredited FCPS programs in cardiology/cardiac surgery, plus diploma courses for technicians and nurses.
Have equipment issues been resolved?
Improvement is ongoing — new ICU ward and equipment upgrades were recently inaugurated, but previous downtime issues have occurred.
Is it free or affordable?
Services are cheaper compared to private hospitals; however, some charges were increased recently for advanced procedures.
🔍 Conclusion
KIHD serves as a vital public cardiac care provider in Karachi, offering comprehensive emergency, interventional, diagnostic, and training services. Recent investments in infrastructure and equipment have strengthened its role. Continued focus on equipment maintenance, fee structuring, and expansion—especially to match institutions like NICVD—will enhance equitable cardiac care in the region.