Trailblazing surgeon and JPMC Executive Director Dr Shahid Rasool passes away in Karachi
A visionary in medicine, Dr Rasool transformed patient care and introduced modern surgical practices in Pakistan
Esteemed surgeon and Executive Director of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC), Dr Shahid Rasool, passed away in Karachi on Friday, leaving a profound void in Pakistan’s medical community.
Renowned for his surgical expertise and leadership, Dr Rasool played a pivotal role in transforming JPMC into a centre of medical excellence in public-sector healthcare. The hospital now stands as one of the largest public-sector and teaching hospitals in Sindh.
Beginning his medical journey at the Royal College of Surgeons in Glasgow, he became known not only for his skill in surgery but also for his administrative acumen.
Dr Rasool championed modern medical technology in Pakistan, vying for patient-centred care and high standards in public healthcare.
Under his leadership, JPMC made significant advances in surgical technology – most notably launching a robotic surgery programme, making it one of the first public hospitals in Pakistan to do so.
In October 2023, JPMC’s surgical team, led by Dr Rasool, performed its first robotic gallbladder removal in just 25 minutes.
By 2024, JPMC had carried out more than 300 robotic surgeries across departments such as urology, general surgery, and gynaecology. Dr Rasool stated that none of those procedures resulted in a fatality.
It is through such pioneering work that Dr Rasool earned domestic as well as international acclaim.
He was awarded an honorary degree by the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh in 2024, in acknowledgement of his contributions to surgery and medical education. Chief Minister Sindh, Murad Ali Shah, publicly called Dr Rasool “an asset to Pakistan” when congratulating him on the achievement.
Earlier this year, the Royal College appointed Dr Rasool as International Adviser for Pakistan.
Dr Rasool publicly defended a “zero-tolerance” approach to unnecessary surgical costs and expressed a strong vision to use public-sector hospital infrastructure for high‑technology, patient-centred care.
He also mentored countless young surgeons and medical students, helping raise the next generation of healthcare professionals.
