KARACHI, Nov 27: Speakers at a symposium stressed the need for better education and training of medical postgraduates in different sub-specialities of medical sciences, including nephrology and urology.

The two-day symposium, comprising scientific sessions and workshops, under the aegis of The Kidney Centre concluded on Sunday.

In his keynote address, Dr Roger Sutton, a professor emeritus from the University of British Columbia, Canada, spoke on renal stones and new pathophysiological insights. He was of the opinion that the causes of abnormal urinary excretions of calcium and oxalate were still incompletely understood, but the new percutaneous techniques for surgical stone removal had allowed the clinicians for direct inspection, biopsy of the papillae and more insight in the stages of early stone formation.

He said current scientific knowledge could probably prevent about 70 per cent of renal stone occurrence and as such the cost of health care could be reduced.

A haemodialysis workshop held for junior doctors also provided an excellent opportunity to dialysis technicians and nurses to update their knowledge on current issues related to universal precautions, management of hypotension, dialysis adequacy and correction of hormonal deficiencies among haemodialysis patients.

At a session, Prof S.M. Rab gave an extensive talk on difficulties and issues incurred in providing postgraduate medical education in various specialities of medical sciences and called for provision of means and opportunities to young medical graduates for pursuing further education in the field of medicine.

Prof Saeed Akhtar from Islamabad, Dr Farhat Abbas of Aga Khan University Hospital, Prof Altaf Hashmi of the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation, Prof Zafar Zaidi, Prof Ahhtar Ali, Dr Tazeen Jaffar, Dr Aizaz Mand, Prof Sajjad Hussain, Prof Sajjad Hussain, Dr Naseem Salahuddin and Dr Asim Ahmed of the Kidney Centre also made presentations.

DIABETES DAY: The National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology, Dow University of Health Science, held a seminar comprising plenary lectures and panel discussion on Sunday to mark the World Diabetes Day. Sindh Health Minister Syed Sardar Ahmad was the chief guest.