Dr. Zulfiqar A. Bhutta, Founding Director of the Institute for Global Health and Development at Aga Khan University (AKU), has been awarded the prestigious Virchow Prize 2025 for his lifelong leadership in advancing maternal, newborn, and child health equity. He shares the honor with Professor Quarraisha Abdool Karim from South Africa.

The Virchow Prize, awarded by the Virchow Foundation, recognizes outstanding contributions to global health that align with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. The committee praised Dr. Bhutta’s transformative impact on global health policies, highlighting his focus on marginalized populations and his advocacy for community-based care models.

With over 1,400 scientific publications and advisory roles in WHO and UNICEF, Dr. Bhutta has made significant contributions to reducing maternal and child mortality in various regions. He expressed gratitude to his collaborators and students for their support.

This award is a significant achievement for AKU, highlighting its commitment to impactful research in addressing health challenges in the developing world. AKU President Dr. Sulaiman Shahabuddin congratulated Dr. Bhutta, affirming the importance of his work in advancing global health equity.