Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University has established itself as a major centre for internationally certified life-saving skills after being recognised as an International Training Centre by the American Heart Association in 2019. SZABMU training has since equipped more than 4,000 doctors, nurses and allied health professionals with Basic Life Support and Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support certifications.
The University runs a network of AHA-authorised training sites, each operating under an official Training Site ID, and regularly delivers Heartsaver First Aid CPR AED, BLS and ACLS courses. Training is provided by AHA-authorised instructors, and the centre also facilitates instructor development and renewals under the American Heart Association mandate for the Middle East and North Africa region.
As the primary affiliating university for medical and dental colleges in the federal territory, SZABMU offers BLS and ACLS certifications at the lowest cost in the country. This pricing strategy aims to ensure students gain practical life-saving skills before they begin clinical duties in hospital wards, improving readiness and patient outcomes across public and private institutions.
The reach of SZABMU training extends beyond Islamabad. The University has delivered courses at Rawalpindi Medical University and through its training site at Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Indus Hospital Muzaffargarh to serve clinicians in peripheral areas. It also supports neighbouring institutions, including Shifa International Hospital and NUST School of Health Sciences, by organising CPR and first aid sessions.
Medical professionals from major hospitals such as Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences, Ali Medical Complex, Shifa International Hospital, Rawalpindi Institute of Cardiology and Farooq Hospital Rawalpindi have obtained AHA certifications through SZABMU’s programmes. The University continues to plan expansions, including the introduction of Paediatric Advanced Life Support courses to address paediatric emergency care needs.
Beyond provider training, SZABMU organises CPR awareness sessions for the public, offices and workplaces while offering both provider and instructor courses to build a sustainable pool of certified instructors. By strengthening local instructor capacity and broadening access to accredited courses, SZABMU training is contributing to a stronger chain of survival across Pakistan.
