ISLAMABAD: Because of lower remuneration, most of the paediatric surgeons are moving abroad as at present only 200 specialist doctors are catering to 45pc population of under 15 years of age.

This was stated by registrar of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto Medical University (Pims) Prof Dr Muhammad Amjad while addressing participants of the 25th International Congress of Association of Paediatric Surgeons of Pakistan organized by Department of Paediatrics Pims at a local hotel on Friday.

During congress it was decided to prepare National Birth Defect Registry to know that how many persons are living with birth defects and how many babies are born with birth defects each year.

Dr Amjad said efforts should be made to stop the brain drain as a large number of babies born with defects or disabilities which can be treated.

“A large number of children are born with the Meningocele, a disease due to which gap between spine is increased due to congenital defect, which can be treated if operated by paediatric surgeon,” he said.

“Similarly babies born with clubfoot, a range of foot abnormalities usually present at birth in which baby’s foot is twisted out of shape or position, can be operated by paediatric surgeon but majority of children are never treated because of unavailability of surgeons,” he said. Dr Amjad urged policy makers to help formulate a plan to retain specialists in the country.

The Minister Capital Administration and Development Division (CADD) Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry while speaking to participants of the congress said that he will play his role to address the issue.

“It’s need of the time to focus on the preventable aspect of this field by constituting National Birth Defect Registry. This will help the government to make future plans,” he said.

“I will pursue the Prime Minister for a special package to Paediatric surgeons in Public sector hospitals to overcome shortage of Paediatric surgeons at one hand and to stop the brain drain on the other hand,” he said.

Published in Dawn, March 4th, 2017