14 February 2004	Saturday	22 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Feb 13: Speakers at the inauguration of annual symposium of the Dow Medical College on Friday stressed the need for a progressive medical-teaching and research at undergraduate and post-graduate levels leading to cost-effective medical solutions in the country.

They observed that indigenous solutions, based on research, in the health sector could also contribute a lot in national progress. Speaker of the Sindh Assembly, Syed Muzaffar Hussain Shah, was the chief guest at the inaugural session of the three-day symposium.

In his key-note address, a former DMC principal and former director-general, Health, Prof Ali Muhammad Ansari, appreciated the theme of the symposium - "Ethical Research for development" - saying that every aspect of human development demanded continuous efforts and research.

He said that symposia brought together many medical and allied professionals to pool their knowledge, wisdom and experience and share it with others. Professionals would interact and prepare useful suggestions with sole purpose of serving humanity, he added.

Referring to the functions of universities and higher educational institutions, he said that one of their major functions was to promote education and develop research simultaneously.

Health research was of fundamental importance and a lot of sufferings and diseases and malnutrition and disabilities could be prevented by adopting newer interventions and cost-effective approach, he noted.

"Our infant and maternal mortality rates are high; we have not yet conquered common communicable diseases, but have already accumulated the burden of non-communicable diseases of modern age.

This needs a lot of thinking, efforts and research, both basic and operational, to arrive at scientific solutions to deal with health problems," he emphasized.

He pointed out that ethical principles of right conduct should be ensured in medical research, he added, urging that research activities be aimed at benefiting people and our statisticians and data should be truthful and based on scientific facts.

While calling to preserve the ethical dimensions, he stated that deepening conflicts between the personal and public interests, professional obligation and economic concern, the patient's best interest and his right to decide, quality and quantity of care and between the physicians as healer and physician as a scientist, were not the issues which might be dealt with easily, as they had varying dimensions that defied stereotype answers.

He said that realizing the role of ethics in medical research, the government had established a National Bioethics Committee, which would help promote and facilitate ethical health services in different institutions and organizations.

Mr Muzaffar Shah said that public sector medical institutions, including the hospitals, though possessing capability and having reliable human resources and services, needed to build up their credibility and improve their image.

He observed that if the people of the country, particularly of Sindh, were not provided with effective health care facilities, then the purpose of getting freedom from British colonial rule would remain unfulfilled.

Lauding the role of DMC, he hoped that it would continue its journey to become the best health education institution of the country. He said that there was a need to build confidence of the people regarding the services offered at government hospitals.

DMC Principal Prof Masood Hameed, who is also the vice-chancellor of the Dow University, informed the audience about measures being taken for shaping up of the varsity and its future working.