UHS sets up pioneer Department of Family Medicine

LAHORE : The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has set up a pioneer Department of Family Medicine at its constituent Gujranwala Medical College (GMC).

This is the first department of family medicine in any public sector medical college in Pakistan.

UHS Vice-Chancellor Professor Javed Akram inaugurated the department on Thursday. The event was attended by GMC Principal and UHS Pro-VC Prof Maroof Aziz, Family Medicine Department head Prof Abdul Nasir Shah, Dr Hina Jawaid, UHS Finance Department head Baquee Bin Hanif and a large number of doctors from Gujranwala DHQ Hospital.

In his address on the occasion, Prof Javed Akram said that masters, diploma and certificate courses in family medicine would be started in the discipline under UHS. He added that certificate and diploma courses would start within six weeks.

Prof Javed Akram said family medicine was the backbone of the healthcare system. "Family medicine plays a key role in the prevention and treatment of communicable and non-communicable diseases", he said and added the family medicine outpatient department would also be started in DHQ Gujranwala. GMC Principal and UHS Pro-VC Professor Maroof Aziz said medical colleges should have a regular department of family medicine according to the requirements of the Pakistan Medical Commission.

In addition, the World Health Organization (WHO) had also expressed a desire to launch family medicine programmes in Pakistani medical institutions, he added.

Prof Maroof said the GMC said he was grateful to Professor Javed Akram and the varsity's board of governors for setting up the new department.