MUZAFFARABAD: A United Kingdom-based organisation of Pakistani and Kashmiri doctors has offered one-year scholarships in emergency medicine to the entire final-year class of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Medical College (AJKMC), Muzaffarabad, expressing the hope that the initiative will help address the urgent need for specialised training in emergency medicine and raise awareness about its critical importance in the region’s healthcare system.

The offer was made by Dr Ashfaq Ahmed Sorathia, founding director of London Global Emergency Medicine (LGEM); Dr Syed Ali Ahmad, an emergency medicine consultant at NHS UK; Dr Mukhtiar Ahmed Pathan, director of LGEM Pakistan; and Syed Qaisar Shah Bukhari, director of international relations at LGEM, during their presentations on the significance of emergency medicine, delivered to a packed audience at AJKMC.

Founded 10 years ago with just 15 doctors, LGEM now has a membership of 40.

Experts note that emergency medicine is a critical medical specialty, focusing on rapid decision-making and immediate care to prevent fatal complications in patients needing urgent medical attention.

Whether addressing trauma, heart attacks, strokes or severe infections, emergency medicine professionals play a pivotal role in saving lives.

Globally, the demand for trained emergency medicine specialists has surged.

In neighbouring India, for instance, around 350 emergency medicine specialists graduate annually, quickly finding placements in both domestic and international healthcare institutions. However, Pakistan has largely overlooked this vital field. Despite the increasing frequency of emergencies — from traffic accidents to natural disasters — there has been limited investment in training and infrastructure, leaving a significant gap in essential medical care.

“By offering scholarships in this critical field, LGEM aims not only to enhance the skills of local medical students but also to address a pressing need in Pakistan’s healthcare system,” said Dr Sorathia, who originally hails from Karachi.

“The training will empower graduates to respond effectively to medical crises, ultimately saving lives and improving healthcare outcomes in the region,” he added.

Mr Bukhari, who belongs to Kashmir, highlighted the financial commitment of the initiative.

“The one-year emergency medicine training programme typically costs £1,200 per student. Through this scholarship, LGEM will fully sponsor the programme for AJKMC students, providing them with world-class training that would otherwise be inaccessible to many,” he said.

“This initiative is our way of giving back to our homeland and uplifting the future of healthcare in AJK,” he added.

Endorsing the initiative, AJKMC Principal Prof Dr Adnan Mehraj reiterated his long-standing advocacy for a state-of-the-art accident and emergency centre in Muzaffarabad’s hospitals, as well as the integration of emergency medicine into medical college curricula.

“With AJK witnessing frequent casualties from road accidents and other emergencies, improving emergency medical infrastructure and embedding emergency medicine in medical education is critical for the region,” he said.

Prof Mehraj expressed confidence that AJKMC graduates, upon completing the training, would make a significant impact on the region’s healthcare system.

Published in Dawn, September 23rd, 2024