KMU Pathology Laboratories

A productive UK Public Health Laboratories Learning Exchange was held with the UK Health Security Agency, bringing together Heads of Provincial Public Health Reference Laboratories from Pakistan and a representative from NIH Islamabad.

The delegation visited Manchester University Hospitals and the UKHSA Headquarters in London, where they observed the UK’s systems for outbreak surveillance, laboratory coordination, and public health response.

While the Pakistani team learned from the UK’s established public health laboratory network, the UK colleagues also showed strong interest in Pakistan’s field experience during the COVID-19 response and recent Mpox preparedness and response activities.

The visit concluded with a shared commitment to build sustainable scientific collaboration between UK and Pakistani public health laboratories, with a focus on outbreak preparedness, genomic surveillance, laboratory quality systems, and workforce development.

Public health threats often begin with neglected environmental problems. In today’s The News report on Hantavirus concerns in Peshawar, I highlighted that Hantavirus is a rare but severe zoonotic infection transmitted mainly through exposure to rodent urine, faeces or saliva if the rodents contain the virus.
Densely populated urban areas, poor waste disposal, open drains and rodent infestation create conditions where such diseases can emerge. Civic authorities, sanitation departments and public health institutions must work together to restart effective anti-rat operations, improve waste management, and raise public awareness.
Prevention remains the most practical public health intervention.
Prof. Dr. Yasar Mehmood Yousafzai
Khyber Medical University, Peshawar
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Hantavirus concerns: Civic authorities urged to launch anti-rat operations PESHAWAR: Public health experts have called for immediate resumption of anti-rat operations across the city after reports of a Hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship allegedly linked to severe...

*KMU’s Biosafety/Biosecurity Achievements Presented as Case Studies at UN Training 🇵🇰🧪*

Proud moment for *Khyber Medical University* at the *ICGEB–UNODA/BWC ISU International Training on Pathogen Detection & Biosecurity* in Trieste, Italy!

*Dr. Hafsah Muhammad*, Assistant Professor BMS & Biosafety and Biosecurity Officer KMU, presented the *KMU Biosafety Program* to experts from 20 countries — with *Public Health Reference Laboratory (PHRL) achievements featured as key case studies*.

The presentation showcased how BMS Labs including PHRL at KMU is advancing:
🔬 *National diagnostic capacity* through high-containment lab practices
🦠 *Pathogen detection & surveillance* frameworks
🛡️ *Biosafety & biorisk management* implementation
📊 *Real-world outbreak response* models from Pakistan

Sharing her work at this UN-based platform highlights KMU’s role in translating policy into practice — and Pakistan’s contribution to global health security.

Our institutional efforts and individual expertise were highly appreciated by international peers. Alhamdulillah, bringing global best practices back home to strengthen public health.

_HAEMCON 2026 kicked off with a power-packed Pre-Conference Workshop!

_"Molecules To Markers: A Modern Workshop On Immunophenotyping & FLEAR Technology"_ at Serena Hotel, Peshawar — 01 May 2026.

Huge thanks to our brilliant facilitators for making it so interactive with case-based buzzer rounds and group discussions:
Lt Col Sarah Fatima, Col Rafia Mehmood, Shawana Shahid, and Prof. Dr Yasar Yousafzai presented their cases. Zahish Safiullah, Aima Bukhari, Dr Mahnoor Wakil and Harris facilitated the workshop.

Conducted jointly by CMH, Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rehman Medical Institute, & AFIP. Proud to advance molecular pathology with PSH!

🩸 1 billion vs. 1 simple blood test

KP has 10,000 thalassaemia patients

The current rule: Rs2,500 HPLC test for every couple getting married. Only 6 machines in all of KP.

400,000 tests/year = Rs1 billion cost. Most people can’t afford it or travel that far.

Experts say: Keep it simple.
✅ *Step 1*: Cheap *CBC test* for all couples — available everywhere
✅ *Step 2*: Expensive HPLC _only if_ CBC looks abnormal
✅ *Free CVS test* in KP so mothers don’t pay Rs20,000 in Pindi

Punjab already gives these services free. KP is still waiting.

*One simple test before nikah can prevent a lifetime of transfusions.*

Time to make the law work, not sit on paper.

KP govt urged to simplify pre-marriage thalassaemia screening KP Health Preventive Act was enforced in 2009 to control thalassaemia and hepatitis but it remained far from being implemented, say officials.

KP govt urged to simplify pre-marriage thalassaemia screening KP Health Preventive Act was enforced in 2009 to control thalassaemia and hepatitis but it remained far from being implemented, say officials.

KMU Blood Donation Camp

The Blood Bank of Khyber Medical University Laboratories, in collaboration with the Regional Blood Centre Peshawar, arranged a one-day blood donation camp at the main campus of Khyber Medical University.

This initiative is part of our commitment to provide blood to all patients on a no-donor, no-replacement basis. Our aim is to reduce dependence on family donors and to discourage corrupt practices such as the commercial use of blood, which carries a high risk of transmissible infections.

Students of Khyber Medical University actively participated and donated blood. Donors who were deferred due to low hemoglobin were referred to a hematologist for assessment of nutritional status and iron levels.

Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Team Pathology visited NAVTEC to discuss scholarships for students of Phlebotomy technology

Team Pathology in Hogwarts mode