Pioneer of epidural services in Pakistan, Dr Ursula Chohan, passes away

She performed country’s first epidural in 1986, founded Pakistan’s first formal obstetric epidural service

One of the foundational pillars of the Department of Anaesthesiologists at Agha Khan University (AKU) and a pioneer of epidural services in Pakistan, Dr Ursula Chohan has passed away.

Dr Chohan has built a career contributing to education, clinical advancement and helped introduce anaesthesia training in the country.

She performed the country’s first epidural for painless childbirth in 1986 and later founded Pakistan’s first formal obstetric epidural service at AKU in 1994 — a milestone that revolutionised maternal healthcare across the nation.

An epidural is the most effective pain relief during labour. A local anaesthetic is injected into the lower back to block pain from the uterus and birth canal without causing drowsiness or slowing labour.

Dr Chohan was known for co-founding the Journal of Anaesthesia and Critical Care. She also received Lifetime Achievement Awards from AKU in 2018 and the Pakistan Society of Anaesthesiologists in 2019.

She graduated from Dow Medical College. Dr Chohan began her medical journey in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, obtaining the DRCOG (Diploma from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists) in 1970.

Recognising the growing need for qualified anaesthesiologists, she transitioned to anaesthesia, earning her DA (Diploma in Anaesthesia) in 1972 and later the FFARCS (Fellowship of the Faculty of Anaesthetists, Royal College of Surgeons, London) in 1982.

In 1986, she returned to Pakistan and joined AKU as an Assistant Professor, where her clinical excellence and professionalism helped define the culture and standards that continue to guide the Department today.