KARACHI: Experts at a conference on surgical innovations for the developing world said on Saturday that surgeons at the country’s leading hospitals were benefiting the advanced surgical equipment which enabled precise surgeries on the most complicated organs of human body.
The event was organised by Aga Khan University. The two-day conference saw experts from Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, the UAE and Switzerland conducted workshops in 11 major surgical areas. Over 500 national and international surgeons, specialists and young doctors were present at the event at the AKU campus.
The experts said that the presence of advanced technology made most complex surgeries possible within the country.
“Such is a great benefit to patients since treatment in Pakistani hospitals is significantly less expensive than the facilities in the United States and England,” said a speaker.
Surgeons said the use of latest imaging technology at the country’s top healthcare institutions was allowing them to look deep within the body and plan surgeries to a level of precision that was not possible before.
In addition, the availability of robotic arms and exoscopes in operating theatres was enabling more targeted, less-invasive treatment for patients.
Dr Masood Umer of the Aga Khan University Hospital said surgeons had never had better tools and technology to operate with earlier. “Like all developing countries, Pakistan suffers from resource constraints that requires us to find frugal innovations to problems and new ways to spread the knowledge and experience that makes the best surgeons.”
He said it took many hours of training, observation and practice before one obtained mastery in a particular surgical area. However, innovations, such as the use of life-like surgical simulators were enabling surgeons to learn their craft at a much quicker pace.
Dr Pervez Hoodbhoy, Syed Ather Enam and Ather Osama also spoke.
Published in Dawn October 23rd, 2016
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