Pakistan(National Times)- KARACHI: Renowned surgeon and philanthropist Professor Dr Adib Rizvi has been conferred the prestigious British Medical Journal (BMJ) Special Recognition Award for his outstanding contributions to medical science and healthcare in the South Asian region, The News reported. The BMJ, a leading UK-based medical journal with a history spanning over a century, annually honours individuals, researchers, and institutions delivering exceptional service in the field of medicine.Play Video The award was presented at a recent ceremony in New Delhi, where Dr Sanjay Nagra, Co-Chair of the BMJ Advisory Board, paid tribute to Rizvi while reading the citation.  He lauded Rizvi’s pioneering efforts in establishing an equitable and accessible healthcare system in Pakistan, based on an innovative partnership model between the government and the community. In his tributes, the co-chair also commended Rizvi’s unwavering commitment to delivering free and high-quality medical treatment to the population at large with respect and dignity and without any discrimination of cast, colour or religion. Dr Nagra received the award on behalf of Dr Rizvi, who spoke to the audience on Zoom and expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the journal for its immense contribution towards the promotion of medical education and allied research.nHe asked the editorial board to support and encourage other health institutions in the region to replicate the model of the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) for the betterment of the health care of the population at large.  He said political animosities should be set aside for the betterment and well-being of the deprived population. SIUT, established in the Civil Hospital Karachi by Dr Rizvi and his colleagues some five decades ago, has now emerged as a state-of-the-art medical institution of the country with a special focus on the field of urology, nephrology, transplant and other related branches.  Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta, another paediatrician from Pakistan, also spoke along with Kamran Abbasi, Editor of BMJ, who also attended the event on Zoom.