HYDERABAD, March 19: About 213 graduate and post-graduate doctors were conferred degrees at the fourth convocation of the Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences here on Saturday. Senate Chairman Mohammedmian Soomro conferred degrees and gold, silver and bronze medals and certificates on the graduating doctors. Vice-chancellor of the LUMHS Professor Jan Mohammed Memon, Adviser to the Sindh Chief Minister on Health Affairs Faisal Malik, who is also pro-chancellor of the LUMHS, and provincial secretary (health) Dr Noushad Sheikh also gave away certificates to position holders.

A group of 15 post-graduate doctors, 167 MBBS graduates, 31 BDS graduates and 11 nursing diploma holders were awarded degrees and administrated the Hippocratic oath. First position and best MBBS graduate-2004 award went to Dr Sumerta, daughter of Srichand Raja Sachdev, who also received gold and silver medals due to her outstanding performance in various subjects. Her uncle received her awards and degree.

First position and best BDS graduate-2004 award was bagged by Dr Ayesha Siddiqa, daughter of Mir Mujtaba Mughal, who also received several awards, shields, certificates and medals for her outstanding performance.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Malik asked the graduating doctors to serve poor people in rural and remote areas of the province.

He said that the provincial government was making efforts to streamline health delivery system in the province to make it more effective and accessible. He added that a comprehensive health policy had been recently announced, which elaborately defined roles of various players of health delivery system.

In his welcome address, Professor Memon said that the LUMHS had initiated a number of developmental activities, including establishment of a pathological laboratory, medical research centre, integration of information technology in medical curriculum and construction of administration block and directorate of information technology, etc.

He said that the university had also undertaken projects of constructing students’ canteen, renovation and refurbishment of lecture halls and commodity centres for the patients and their attendants.

He said that that the university was working on about 37 research projects with the financial assistance of the Higher Education Commission.

The vice-chancellor said that the LUMHS had established academic linkages with some national and foreign organizations and institutations of higher learning.

He proposed that the hospital of the university be given autonomy and run by a board of governors with representation of the faculty of university, professionals and eminent members of the public sector.