KARACHI, Jan 28: The director-general of the federal health ministry, Abdul Majid Rajput, stressed the need for modifying and making the undergraduate medical education curriculum more community-oriented.

He was speaking at the plenary session of the Second Annual Symposium of the National Institute of Child Health (NICH) here on Saturday.

The director-general said that this was equally true for nursing and other health care professionals so as to develop a strong and realistic linkage between the undergraduate medical education and health care system in the country.

He said that the government was cognizant of the issues related to lacunae in the capacities, skills and knowledge of many of the health care personnel and its repercussion on the public health.

Mr Rajput, responding to the presentation made by senior paediatrician, Prof Zulfiqar A. Bhutta said that things were improving and on the basis of studies conducted by committed professionals including Dr Bhutta himself, a national programme worth Rs32 billion had been launched focussing on pertinent interventions to contain high perinatal, neonatal as well as maternal mortality in the country.

In the first phase of the programme in question 10,000 skilled birth attendants are being trained with equal attention to enhance their outreach.

Prof Zulfiqar Bhutta of the Aga Khan Medical University in his presentation on “Perinatal and new born care in Pakistan” sought in strong terms due care towards healthcare needs and social as well as emotional well-being of local women folk.

Dr Annette Jacobson in her presentation highlighted the importance of multi-disciplinary approach in handling diseases related complications among children.

NICH Director Prof Afroze Ramzan presented memento to the Mr Rajput.

Earlier, on Friday night at the inaugural session of the symposium the acting president and Senate chairman, Mohammadmian Soomro, hinted on certain technicalities and legalities involved in the adoption of law on cadaver organ donation.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that he had talked to the chairperson of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Health regarding the status of the proposed bill and was informed that it was being extensively reviewed.

“I have frequently referred to my stance and the fact that I have already left a will to donate my organs, yet for adopting any law all legalities and technicalities have to be taken into account,” he said.

Mr Soomro observed that there was as yet certain information to be procured and reconfirmed prior for moving forward with introducing law on cadaver organ donation.

Regarding the need for a piece of land for the expansion of the NICH as a modern medical complex housing different health care facilities under one roof, he said the issue would be taken up with the officials concerned.

Agreeing with the submissions forwarded by NICH Director Prof Afroze Ramzan, he said the present government was committed towards across the board availability of quality health care in the country and for the very purpose had also been regularly increasing budgetary allocations for the health sector.

NICH Director Dr Afroze Ramzan in her presentation drew the attention of the acting president towards the plight of children inflicted with kidney or liver failure.

She said that organ transplantation had become a reality giving good quality of life to patients suffering from various organ failures.

“Patients suffering from renal failure especially children have an extremely miserable life,” she said adding that organ transplantation have become a routine practice in most of the countries including Muslim states.

“But in Pakistan legislation of cadaveric organ donation has not taken place,” she regretted and urged the need for an early passage of the pending bill on cadaveric donation.—APP