Recognition of Abbasi Shaheed Hospital for Postgraduate Training
and KMDC from PM&DC were among his key achievements
By Shaukat Ali Jawaid
KARACHI: Prof. Ejaz Ahmad Vohra, an eminent physician, passed away peacefully at home on Friday, February 7, 2025, at the age of 88 after a prolonged illness. May Allah rest his soul in Jannah? Aameen. His wife died a few years ago and it has its own effects on his health.
Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences organized a reception in honour of late
Prof. Ejaz Ahmad Vohra to recognize his contributions to medical education, teaching, training, healthcare and academics on January 8th 2022 which was largely attended by many eminent medical personalities. Picture here from File shows Prof. Javed Akram former VC UHS alongwith Prof. Abdus Samad, Prof. A. G. Billoo, Prof. Tariq Rafi former VC JSMU presenting him the Life Time Achievement Awards. Also seen on extreme left is the host Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid Chief
Editor of PJMS.
A graduate of Dow Medical College in 1959, he lived a full life and made immense contributions to various professional societies, including the Pakistan Medical Association, Pakistan Society of Physicians, Pakistan Cardiac Society, Pakistan Hypertension League, Pakistan Aspirin Foundation and the Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine (PSIM), where he was selected as Patron. He also served as President of the Pakistan Aspirin Foundation. In addition, he remained affiliated with the Pakistan Society of Occupational Medicine, Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan, Medical Research Society of Pakistan, and the Pakistan Academy of Neurological Sciences. He was also a member of the British Medical Association from 1963 to 1998. Despite having a lucrative job opportunity in the UK, he did not avail British citizenship and returned to Pakistan to serve his country.
Born on April 30, 1937, in Chiniot into a business family, he received his early education at Islamia High School Chiniot before joining D.J. Science College at Karachi. He later graduated from Dow Medical College. He went to the UK for postgraduate training and worked at HOPE Hospital Salford, earning his MRCP in 1970 and being awarded a Fellowship of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, in 1988.
Photographed at the reception hosted in honour of Prof. Ejaz Ahmad Vohra by PJMS on January 8th 2022 shows from (L to R) are Mr. Bashir Jan Mohammad, Prof.Ejaz Ahmad Vohra, Prof. Abdus Samad, Prof. A.G. Billoo, Prof. Jamil,
Dr. Riazul Hassan, and Prof. Rashid. Standing from (L to R) are Prof. Razzaque Sheikh, Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid, Mr. Akhtar Tahir, Syed Jamshed Ahmed,
Mr. Kashif Riaz and Mr. Mubarak Ali.
When Abbasi Shaheed Hospital was inaugurated in Nazimabad, Karachi, in 1973, he was among the first consultants to join. He headed Medical Unit-I from 1973 to 1996 and was dedicated to getting it recognized as a postgraduate training center. He regularly organized clinical meetings at the hospital and, through his connections, facilitated a visit from Col. M.B. Azmi, then Registrar of CPSP, who was impressed with the training facilities. As a result, the hospital was recognized for FCPS training in Medicine and Surgery, later expanding to other specialties.
Karachi Medical & Dental College (KMDC) struggled to attract faculty in its early days. When Prof. Vohra was appointed Principal, he convinced distinguished faculty members to join and successfully secured recognition from PM&DC. He served as Principal from November 1991 to April 30, 1996.
Despite undergoing coronary artery bypass graft surgery twice, he remained actively engaged in academic activities. He was a regular participant in national and international conferences and made significant contributions to professional societies. He was instrumental in formulating guidelines on hypertension for the Pakistan Society of Physicians and the Pakistan Hypertension League. He was also part of the expert group of Pakistan Aspirin Foundation that finalized the guidelines on the Medical Uses of Aspirin.
After retiring from KMDC, he joined Ziauddin Medical University as Dean, Director of Postgraduate Clinical Studies, and Head of the Department of Medicine. He also served as the Regional Representative of the Royal College of Physicians, Edinburgh, in 2003 and later as its Regional Advisor. He was a member of the editorial board of the Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences and several other journals. Additionally, he was appointed Editor-in-Chief of the Pakistan Journal of Medicine and Dentistry, launched by Ziauddin Medical University.
Group photograph taken at the reception hosted in honor of Prof.Ejaz Ahmad Vohra by Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences on January 8th 2022 shows from
(L to R) Prof. Azhar M.A. Faruqui, Prof. Kalimuddin Aziz, Prof. Abdus Samad,
Prof. Javed Akram, Prof. Mansoor Ahmed, and Prof. Ishaq. Standing from (L to R) Dr. Fawad Farooq, Prof. Rashid, Shaukat Ali Jawaid, Prof.Khalida Soomro and Prof. Zaman Sheikh. The group photograph on right shows Mr. Bashir Jan Mohammad, Prof. Ejaz Ahmad Vohra, Prof. Abdus Samad, Prof. A. G. Billoo and Prof. Jamil Ahmed.
To honor his contributions to medical education, teaching, training, and healthcare, Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences organized a reception in his honour on January 8th 2022 at a hotel, attended by eminent cardiologists, physicians, industry representatives, colleagues, and family members.
I had known him since 1972 and always found him approachable for professional guidance. In my last visit to him on 23rd January 2025, I asked if he was satisfied with his life, to which he responded with contentment. However, he expressed regret over the commercialization of medicine, lamenting that it had become a business rather than the noble profession it once was. He strongly believed that “Human Medicine” should be integrated into the medical curriculum.
He was one of the founder members of the Health Research Advisory Board sponsored by PharmEvo Pharmaceuticals. When I asked him why Health RAB decided to part ways with PharmEvo and then got affiliated with another pharmaceutical company and don’t you think it affected your and Prof. A. G. Billoo’s credibility? He paused for a while and then said, we were told that other pharmaceutical companies are reluctant to work with us because of our affiliation with a particular company. However after later developments, when I asked Dr. Zaki and Prof. Abdul Basit the same question, they had no Answer. I think it was a wrong decision.
When Pakistan Society of Internal Medicine was formed by Prof. Javed Akram and his colleagues from Lahore, they approached him to become its Patron to which he refused. Prof. Javed Akram then requested me to talk to Prof. Ejaz Ahmad Vohra and convince him. I went to see him and we discussed this issue. To begin with he was reluctant and said, my previous experience in Pakistan Society of Physicians was not good. Our colleagues have double standards. When as President of PSP I wanted to organize the national conference, everybody asked me to have it at some institution rather than a Five Star Hotel.
In order to recognize his contributions to medical education, teaching, training, healthcare and academics Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences organized a recep-tion in honour of Prof.Ejaz Ahmad Vohra at Karachi on January 8th 2022. Group photograph taken on the occasion shows some of the distinguished participants from (L to R) Prof. Azhar M.A. Farooqui, Prof.Ejaz Vohra, Prof. Abdus Samad, Prof. Javed Akram, Mr. Bashir Jan Mohammad, Mr. Nasim, Mr. Mubarak Ali, Dr. Masood Jawaid, and Prof. Unaiza Niaz, Shaukat Ali Jawaid, Prof. Ambreen Usmani, Dr. Zubia Masood and Prof. Saeeda Baig.
I organized it at CPSP but when others term came, they organized the meeting at hotel. Eventually I was able to convince him and he agreed to accept to be the Patron of PSIM.
However, he was concerned about the organization’s fundraising practices involving the pharmaceutical industry. When industry representatives complained to him, he considered resigning in February 2022 about two months before the PSIM conference at Karachi scheduled from MAY 6th to 8th 2022 but was persuaded by me to stay to avoid disrupting an upcoming PSIM conference. I personally conveyed his concerns at the event through a presentation ensuring his message was heard by the PSIM leadership which was present in that session. However, he was delighted with the progress and achievements of PSIM in such a short time and gave full credit to Prof. Javed Akram and his team for revitalizing the crucial specialty of Internal Medicine in the country.
In our meeting on January 23rd 2025 at his residence, he also talked about Prof. A. G. Billoo his very dear friend and said, after the death of his wife, he is very upset and was not keeping good health. Recently he had some stem cell therapy for his knee joints problem.
Upon hearing of his death, I visited his residence, which is near my office, and met his brother, Naseem. His attendant recounted that Prof. Vohra had not been well that day. Around 2:00 PM, he held his hand and said, “Don’t leave me, recite Kalma,” and then recited Kalma himself before peacefully passing away. His Namaz-e-Janaza was held after Isha prayers at Al-Hamra Mosque on Tipu Sultan Road, attended by colleagues, friends, and well-wishers. At the mosque, Prof. A.G. Billoo was overcome with grief, lamenting, “He has left me alone.”
Prof. Ejaz Ahmad Vohra was an institution in himself. He was also affiliated with Chiniot General Hospital in Korangi and played an active role in its development. Despite his deteriorating health, he remained up-to-date with medical advancements and regularly shared insights with friends and colleagues via email. He was honored by numerous medical societies and institutions.
He is survived by his son, Imran Ejaz, a daughter, and a large network of friends, colleagues, and admirers in the medical profession, business community, and society at large.
May Allah grant him a place in Jannah. Aameen.
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PHL Condolence Meeting for Prof. Ejaz Vohra
KARACHI: The Pakistan Hypertension League (PHL) organized a condolence meeting for the late Prof. Ejaz Ahmad Vohra at the PHL offices on Saturday, February 8, 2025.
Speaking on the occasion, Prof. M. Ishaq, former President of PHL, paid rich tributes to Prof. Vohra, describing him as an exceptionally competent physician—an institution in himself. He noted that Prof. Vohra remained updated on the latest developments in medicine and generously shared his knowledge with colleagues.
Prof. Ishaq also highlighted Prof. Vohra’s contributions to PHL, the Pakistan Cardiac Society, and other professional organizations, where he was an active participant. He was a highly respected figure in the medical community, known for his integrity and candidness in expressing his views.
Several other speakers, including Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid, Prof. Mansoor Ahmad, Prof. Nawaz Lashari, Dr. Saira Bukhari, and Prof. A. Rasheed Khan, also shared their thoughts, paying heartfelt tributes. They recalled his immense contributions in various fields, including teaching, training, healthcare, academics, and his service to society at large.
Prof. Vohra remained professionally active until about a month ago when his health no longer permitted him to practice. He was among the rare breed of medical professionals who upheld and practiced ethical medicine, prioritized clinical skills, and championed a patient-centered approach to healthcare.
