KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association on Wednesday announced that a Chinese team of ophthalmologists would perform 500 eye surgeries at a charity healthcare facility in the city in January.

“We feel happy to inform the people about the ‘Bright Journey Pakistan’ project, wherein 500 eye surgeries will be performed by the Chinese ophthalmologists at the PEBS Hospital, a charity facility, in North Karachi from January 10-24,” said Dr Qaiser Sajjad, PMA secretary general, at a press conference at the PMA House Karachi.

“This is in pursuance of the collaboration of the medical associations of the two countries to strengthen the Pak-China medical corridor,” he added.

The media was informed that a delegation of the International Health Exchange and Cooperation, China (IHECC) was visiting Pakistan to finalise arrangements of the activity.

“It is being carried out as a gesture of goodwill to promote friendly relations between the two countries,” said Dr Shoukat Malik, president of the PMA Karachi.

The four-member Chinese delegation is headed by Hu Meiqi, deputy director of the IHECC, which also signed a memorandum of understanding with the PMA, and offered that it would bear all expenses in organising the free eye camp as a gift from China to the poor and needy patients of Pakistan.

Dr Qazi Wasiq, PMA’s treasurer, also medical director of the PEBS Hospital, said the Chinese team had visited PEBS Hospital to evaluate the available facilities and discussed details of protocols and standard operating procedure for the planned eye camp.

“It is hoped that similar activities will follow in other fields of medicine across Pakistan,” said Dr Wasiq.

“It will be an excellent opportunity to share knowledge and skills among doctors of the two countries in the field of ophthalmology,” said Hu Meiqi.

Published in Dawn, November 9th, 2017