Chennai l
A 23-year-old Pakistani national who had been undergoing treatment for severe respiratory failure at a private hospital in Chennai passed away on April 25, hospital authorities confirmed on Monday.
The patient was admitted to MGM Healthcare on February 12, 2025, following complications from interstitial lung disease.
“Despite the best efforts of our medical team, he passed away at 8:45 PM on April 25 after a prolonged illness and 70 days on ECMO support,”
the hospital said, extending condolences to the grieving family.
ECMO, or extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, is an advanced life support system used when a patient’s heart and lungs are unable to function adequately.
The death comes amid India’s directive for all Pakistani nationals to leave the country, following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 civilian lives. On April 27, India revoked all valid visas issued to Pakistani citizens, with medical visa holders allowed to stay only until April 29, 2025.
Earlier, doctors at MGM Healthcare had expressed concerns about the patient’s critical condition. They had warned that repatriating the youth, who was reliant on ECMO support, could have severely jeopardized his health.
Throughout his hospital stay, either his mother or father remained by his side in Chennai, while the other stayed in Pakistan to manage their home.
Chennai has become a significant hub for Pakistanis seeking advanced medical care. In January last year, a 19-year-old girl from Karachi underwent a successful heart transplant at the same hospital, with costs covered by the hospital and an NGO.
