Dr Farhat Abbas

Chief Executive Officer, The Aga Khan University Hospital and Health System, Pakistan

Husein Cumber Professor of Surgery (Urology)

Dr Farhat Abbas is the Chief Executive Officer of the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) and Health System in Pakistan. A distinguished surgeon and academic leader, he oversees a vast health network encompassing the Main Hospital in Karachi, four off-campus Aga Khan Hospitals in Karachi and Hyderabad, and an Outreach Health Network extending across more than 100 cities nationwide.

Guided by AKUH’s core principles of Quality, Access, Relevance, and Impact, Dr Abbas’s leadership is deeply rooted in patient-centric care. He is a dedicated champion of the hospital’s Patient Welfare and Zakat Programmes, initiatives that provide extensive financial support to millions and ensure world-class healthcare remains accessible regardless of a patient's ability to pay.

Prior to his current role as CEO, Dr Abbas served in a succession of pivotal leadership roles over his decades-long relationship with the university. As the former Dean of the Medical College in Pakistan, he made significant contributions to health sciences education, research, and administration. His previous executive tenures include Chief Operating Officer of AKUH, Associate Vice Provost, Associate Dean of Clinical Affairs, and Associate Dean for Postgraduate Medical Education.

Dr Abbas joined AKUH in 1985 as a Resident in the Department of Surgery. Today, as the Husein Cumber Professor of Surgery (Urology), he maintains a robust clinical focus. His surgical expertise lies in urologic oncology, reconstructive urology, and endo-urology.

Dedicated to advancing medical science, his research delves into the molecular mechanics of urological cancers. He has actively studied genetic markers of cancer aggressiveness and explored targeted therapies for prostate cancer. Dr Abbas has also contributed to clinical research on nephron-sparing surgeries for renal tumours, focusing on how to preserve healthy kidney function during tumour removal.

Beyond his clinical practice and research, he has been a vocal advocate for advancing postgraduate medical education not just in Pakistan, but across the region, including spearheading programmatic activities in Afghanistan and Northern Pakistan.

In recognition of his monumental achievements in the field of medicine, the Government of Pakistan has conferred upon Dr Abbas two of its highest civilian honours: the Sitara-e-Imtiaz (Star of Excellence) and the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (Medal of Excellence).

Dr Abbas is a Fellow of the European Board of Urology, the American College of Surgeons, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, and the Pakistan Academy of Sciences and Medical Sciences. He has also served on World Health Organization subcommittees on bladder and prostate cancer.