Country’s renowned haematologist and bone marrow transplant pioneer Dr Tahir Shamsi breathed his last at a private hospital in Karachi on Tuesday morning, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

Dr Tahir Shamsi had been under treatment after undergoing surgery last week following suffering a brain haemorrhage. 

Dr Shamsi was in the intensive care unit of the Aga Khan University Hospital and his condition was reported to be critical.

Dr Tahir Shamsi is credited with introducing bone-marrow transplant in Pakistan in 1995 and so far, he had performed some 650 bone-marrow transplants and written over 100 research articles in international journals.

During the first wave of coronavirus pandemic, Dr Tahir Shamsi came up with the idea of treating Covid-19 patients using plasma of those who recovered from the virus.

In 2016, the Dow Graduates Association of North America had honoured the Pakistani doctor with a lifetime achievement award in recognition of his services.

In 2011, Dr Shamsi had established the National Institute for Blood Disease for the treatment of blood-related diseases and he was head of the facility. He was also the director of the Stem Cell Program at NIBD as well. He was a Royal College of Pathologist fellow.

Dr Tahir Shami was also on the government’s medical board which carried out medical treatment in Lahore of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif.

Reporter Shazaib Hussain