LAHORE
The International Medical Conference 2016 in cooperation with Royal College of Physicians, London, is coming back to Pakistan after 10 years with the objective to promote medical education and research as well as to present Pakistan to the world as a safe venue to organise academic and research activities.
“The three-day conference under its theme ‘Exploring the Future Challenges in Medicine with Global Perspective’, to be jointly organised by Azra Naheed Medical College and RCP, London, from February 26-28 in a local hotel, will be inaugurated by President Mamnoon Hussain on Friday, (February 26),” informed Prof Dr Akbar Ch, International Adviser RCP, London, Prof Dr Javed Akram, Medical Adviser RCP, London, and Prof Dr Tanzeem Haider Raza, Clinical Physician from UK, while speaking to journalists on Sunday.
Prof Dr Akbar Ch, who is also Principal of Azra Naheed Medical College, Lahore, said the last International Medical Conference was held in 2006 and had to be delayed inevitably due to volatile security situation. “As things moving towards normalcy, it is high time to organise international medical conference with foreign experts to deliver state-of-the-art lectures especially after British High Commission and British Council have also given a green signal to Royal College of Physicians, London, to hold a joint International Medical Conference in Pakistan,” he said, adding that it would be a great opportunity for the knowledge-starved medical professionals/practitioners and medical students especially in view of the latest medical advancements in the field of medicine.
Prof Dr Javed Akram, Vice Chancellor Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad, said that a 17-member delegation of experts from Royal College of Physicians, London, would participate in the conference, as Prof David Worrell, Director International Office RCP, London, would deliver a lecture on the opening day of the conference. On second day, the experts will read their papers during different sessions on Cardiology, Diabetes, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Neurology, Infectious and Tropical Diseases and current medical issues. The renowned experts will also discuss epidemics of dengue, avian influenza, rabies, snake-bite and various other issues.
On third day, Dr Sania Nishtar and Prof Dr Javed Akram will deliver lectures on state of medical education and research in Pakistan, whereas sessions are also spared for behavioural sciences and communication skills to inculcate medical ethics among medical professionals. “All these academic exercises will ultimately benefit the patients,” he said, adding that thousands of specialists, doctors, family physicians and medical students from across the country have already registered for participating in the conference.
He informed that 15 CME Credit Hours have been approved and Royal College of Physicians, London, will award 14 Category-I External CME Credit Points, which would benefit the participants for their registration with the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council.
He informed that these endeavours would also ensure holding MRCP-III course in Pakistan to be supervised by the foreign examiners. Similarly, MRCP-I & II were brought in Pakistan after IMC 2006. “It will allow students to avail opportunity to complete MRCP in Pakistan as students earlier have to go abroad for completion of MRCP, and it will definitely save a lot of foreign exchange,” he added. He informed that Medical Training Initiative (MTI) would also be started, which would offer training to medical graduates for two years with the condition to be sent back to serve their own countrymen.
He said six Pakistani universities would develop partnership with international universities, where five public sector hospitals in four provinces and capital would engage foreign experts/institutions to improve governance to serve as model hospitals in the country.
He informed that the IMC 2016 would formulate a set of recommendations for the government to improve healthcare system in Pakistan. He said that the governments were doing aggressive spending rather than progressive spending in health sector with virtually nothing for preventive side of healthcare. “The primary and secondary health system is in total disarray,” he said, adding that the healthcare system in Pakistan would not improve until our rulers start getting treatment in public sector hospitals,” he added.
