Khyber Medical University: Stepping into the future

PESHAWAR: Vice-Chancellor of Khyber Medical University (KMU) Dr Arshad Javaid was very enthusicstic when he assumed the charge of his office and during his first interaction with the faculty and staff said that the modern university is a place of knowledge synthesis, and its transfer, and translation into practice and policy.

He vowd to utilsie the uiversity resources and attract and retain the best human capital available in the market and invest in the generation of the state of the art knowledge aimed at the economic development of Pakistan, and healthy Pakistanis.

“We must invest in the generation of the state of the art knowledge aimed at the economic development of Pakistan, and healthy Pakistanis. We must not be strangled by an outdated medical education system, which hinders progress in the name of unavailability of resources, for we have the resources, they just need to be channelized in a proper way. We must achieve all of these while upholding the basic human values of empathy, honesty, transparency, and tolerance”, these were the few famous words that the current KMU Vice-Chancellor, Dr Arshad Javaid said to the faculty and staff.

Six months on, and the vice-chancellor appears even more committed to achieving the lofty goals he had set for the staff and faculty of the University despite a few minor hurdles and unnecessary disruptions by some quarters.

The university is on the brink of launching multiple programs in the field of basic and clinical medical sciences, dental sciences, sports medicine, and nursing science. The most notable of these programs is the “Diploma in Family Medicine”, which will help the health department of KP to deal with the acute shortage of family practitioners in the province.

The impending issue of the recognition of the varsity’s constituent dental institute in Kohat has also progressed favorably and the through some astute moves by the university leadership, the human resource shortage in the said dental college is now well above the minimum requirements of the PMDC.

Another issue faced by the current leadership of the university was the retention of its highly qualified faculty, given private institutions right and left were offering obscene salary packages to the doctoral faculty of the university.

Again, through the hard work and determination of the university leadership, the doctoral staff of the university are in line to get a pay-hike soon, which will result in the retention of the current staff as well as attracting more highly qualified individuals, which by no means is a minor feat given the disparity in riches available to the public and the private sector.

Dr Arshad Javaid said the university was strategically working on different fronts. “Increasing access to quality health professions educational programs to the population of the far-flung areas of the province through satellite campuses is one such venture, the university is considering. The KMU is also revolutionizing the curriculum for undergraduate medical and dental programs, by introducing integrated curriculum in its constituent and affiliated institutions, a move that will allow the doctors of our region to remain competitive in the global arena,” he explained.

He said the University is also thriving on the research front. Most recently it has become a recipient of a multi-million pounds global health research grant in collaboration with 15 other universities from UK, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, and Pakistan, to establish a global research group on tobacco control. Dr Arshad Javaid said the KMU is also carrying out a large research project on stunting prevention in the Kurram Agency in collaboration with international development partners. In addition, Dr Arshad Javaid said hundreds of student research projects are being carried out in different labs, hospitals, and the community.

He seems very confident that the University, if not hindered by people motivated by self-interest, will soon be regarded as one of the best, if not the best medical university in Pakistan. The vice-chancellor said he gave up a very lucrative position at one of the biggest hospitals of the country as he felt that his vast experience in the field of academic management and leadership could benefit the university and perhaps make a more profound effect on the health sector of KP by improving the quality of health professionals education and health research.

The universities in Pakistan have a big role to play in the economic development of the country, the medical universities even more so, for only a healthy nation can be a productive one, said Prof Arshad Javaid.