LAHORE, June 7: Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI) Principal Prof Dr Anjum Habib Vohra has said the brain tumor is a curable disease and all major government hospitals in Punjab have the facility of neuro surgery.

He said this on the eve of the World Tumor Day observed on Friday. Like other parts of the province, the day was commemorated by organizing seminars and workshops.

Prof Vohra emphasised the need to cover the shortage of neurosurgeons in order to provide timely treatment to brain tumor patients and other neuro-related complicated diseases.

He says the tumors are of two types -- the primary tumor which originates from brain and the secondary tumor which starts from liver, kidneys, chest or lungs in the form of cancer and then develops in the brain. Permanent headache and vomiting are the symptoms of brain tumor.

The PGMI principal said the disease was being treated successfully all over the world due to advancements in medical science.

He said the disease was also cured through radiotherapy in addition to surgery, adding that more advanced treatments like stereo tannic and radio surgery were also being used in Pakistan.

“Pakistan is facing an acute shortage of neurosurgeons as there are only 17 professors of neurosurgery and 200 neurosurgeons available for 180 million population”, he said.

Prof Vohra appreciated the chief minister’s decision to establish an Institute of Neuro Sciences at LGH saying the institute would provide a large range of opportunities for research and training of doctors.

He said the LGH was playing a pivotal role in neurosurgery and victims of traffic accidents and head injuries were brought here from all over the country, hence making the hospital a national institution.

He expressed the hope that the provincial government would take steps to expedite the project of Institute of Neuro Sciences at the LGH.

Convocation: College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) President Dr Zafarullah Chaudhry has said the college will organise workshops to impart moral training of doctors to attend patients more politely.

Talking to the media here on Friday, he said the purpose to organise workshops was to address complaints of aggressive and harsh attitude of doctors towards patients at health facilities.

Prof Chaudhry said the CPSP had produced 85 per cent of the total 25,000 specialist doctors so far.

He said the CPSP would hold its 47th Convocation on Saturday (today) at a local hotel and Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif would be the chief guest.