A leading healthcare establishment in Abu Dhabi, Burjeel Hospital, has announced that it has started its pledge of 100 free heart surgeries with ten life-saving operations successfully completed.

The hospital launched its compassionate community initiative in November 2012 and dedicated it to the memory of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. As part of the initiative, Burjeel will cover the cost of all 100 surgeries, free medical assistance, surgery and post-surgical care for patients in the Middle East who may not be able to afford the life-saving surgery.

Since the launch, Burjeel Hospital, the only private hospital in the UAE to initiate such a programme, has received many requests for free heart surgeries from residents of the middle east and neighboring countries,  who would normally be unable to afford them, a statement from the hospital said.

Dr Shamsheer Vayalil, founder and managing director of Burjeel Hospital, said: “The process of identifying suitable applicants for the surgeries is well-advanced and 10 free heart operations have already been completed.”

Dr Charles Stanford, CEO, Burjeel Hospital, said: “Once the applicant makes initial contact, our cardiac team carefully analyses each application, and we then conduct a series of diagnostics to ensure their suitability for these surgeries.”

“This screening process is intensive because we need to ensure that we have the best chance of success for the recipients. The final recommendation is made by a panel of highly-qualified and experienced doctors at Burjeel.”

“Patient welfare is our primary concern and in some cases, applicants are not able to receive these cardiac surgeries due to their overall medical condition,” Dr Stanford added.

“Burjeel Hospital is open to receiving requests for the free heart surgeries from all over the Middle East. With heart disease rates in the GCC among the highest in the world, we know that there are many more people in the region who need heart surgeries but can’t afford them,” Dr Vayalil said. “Our goal, which is inspired by the compassionate work of the country’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, is to help as many people as possible. We encourage people who need a heart operation to contact us to register for the programme.”

“For the cardiovascular surgeons at Burjeel Hospital, there is an overwhelming sense of satisfaction for saving the lives of people who might not normally be able to afford such major heart operations. I am very honoured to be part of Burjeel Hospital’s free heart surgery program,” said Dr YA Nazer, consultant, cardiac surgery.

“Through this compassionate programme offered by Burjeel Hospital, I am also able to help people who either don’t have health insurance or simply don’t have the money to pay for these operations which can be quite expensive. It is very gratifying in a humanitarian way, and our cardiac team is very happy to use their skills in this world-class hospital to help people enjoy a longer and more active life,” Dr Nazer added.

Burjeel has established a Center of Excellence for cardiac and vascular conditions in partnership with the prestigious Columbia University’s department of cardiothoracic surgery.

Columbia performs 1,600 adult surgeries annually, including on-and off-pump coronary bypass surgeries, valve procedures and over 800 minimally-invasive and robotic surgeries. It also has more than 25 years of experience in cardiac transplant surgery, undertaking 70 to 100 cardiac transplants each year, and is a recognised leader in pediatric cardiac care. – TradeArabia News Service