RAWALPINDI: Punjab Caretaker Health Minister Dr Jamal Nasir has said that the caretaker government would pay attention to the improvement of medical facilities in hospitals.

He stated this while addressing the 55th convocation of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP). Pakistan Army Surgeon General Lt Gen Mohsin Mohammad Qureshi and president of CPSP Professor Dr Mohammad Shoaib Shafi were also present on this occasion.

CPSP council members, fellow doctors of various programmes, their parents and children also participated in the convocation. Dr Jamal Nasir said the system of CPSP was transparent and merit followed in the organisation which is serving the country and the nation in the true sense.

He said that passing the CPSP exam is not an easy task and the whole family is involved when the doctor is preparing for this exam. He said that CPSP authorities are requested to make a policy to change the two-year condition of FPSP (Part One) to three years as it is difficult for in-service doctors to fulfill this condition.

He said that steps will be taken to fulfill the demands of CPSP and solve their problems and the chief minister will also be informed about this.

“The growth of institutions depends on leadership and team work, and CPSP fulfills the criteria of the best institutions as it is internationally recognised. The nation appreciates this institution and prays that it will continue its journey towards development,” he said, adding that it is difficult to meet the modern medical requirements without postgraduate medical education.

“All stakeholders are playing their role in the National Health Policy and CPSP has established links with top international educational institutions,” he added.

Prof Dr Mohammad Shoaib Shafi said that CPSP is incorporating modern research trends in its fellowship programmes, he said, adding that the programmes of CPSP are also continuing in the Institute of Armed Forces and are becoming popular.

He said that there is need for trained human resources in emergency and intensive care sectors. Gold medals were given to Dr Maneza Nasir in gynaecology and Dr Jafar Khan in pulmonology. Award of the fellowship was given to Prof Asif Loya who is the medical officer of Shaukat Khanum Lahore and the fellowship degree was given to Neurosurgeon Prof Asif Bashir.

Fellow doctors who passed out in various programmes were sworn in whereas medals were given to other doctors who got prominent positions.

Meanwhile, at another convocation ceremony of the CPSP, Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Mohammad Amjad Khan Niazi, who was the chief guest, congratulated the graduates, parents and faculty on achieving a significant milestone.

He said by pursuing health education as a career, doctors would have to deliver best possible care to their patients by keeping themselves abreast of latest knowledge.

“The biggest achievement of CPSP is to have introduced, nurtured and established an indigenous system of postgraduate medical education that has paved the way for comprehensive healthcare in the country that includes primary as well specialist care,” he said.

In his welcome address, the CPSP president said the college had recently started fellowship programme in liver transplant and affiliated Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute Research Centre in Lahore and an institute in Gambat near Sukkur. Moreover, CPSP has opened new regional centres in Gambat and Gilgit-Baltistan.

Published in Dawn, January 30th, 2023