KARACHI, Feb 9: The Dow Medical College is organizing its annual updating symposium for doctors and medical students at its different teaching departments and hospitals from Feb 13 to Feb 15.

The symposium on "Ethical research for development" would comprise two plenary and about 16 scientific sessions, covering all major and allied specialities in the fields of medicine and surgery, while a scientific exhibition, covering the available major therapeutic modalities, would also be a part of the symposium, the organizers of the moot said on Monday.

At a press conference, the chairperson of moot's organizing committee, Prof D S Akram, said that Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan would be the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of the symposium.

She said that 30 invited speakers, in addition to some others, would deliberate on new techniques of investigation and treatment available for patients, while the recommendations of the symposium would be placed before the policy-makers as well as Health ministry and departments of federal and provincial governments.

According to the chairperson, foreign delegates from UK and USA, mostly the Dow graduates, have also volunteered for the symposium and they would attend it on their on expenses, and share their experiences with local doctors and students.

The symposium would be preceded by various workshops on important topics of common interest, like Echocardiography, upper and lower GI endoscopy, Advance trauma management, Cleft lip and palate child, perintology and Paedriatic and Gynae/Obstetrics, she informed.

The vice-chancellor of the Dow University of Health Science, Prof Masood Hameed Khan, said that the symposium was aimed at providing a forum for interaction and exchange of views among the Dow graduates. He said over 2,500 Dow graduates were working in USA and as such they could be beneficial for many of the Pakistanis, if invited to communicate and exchange views regarding the dynamic changes in Health science.

To a question, he said that different statutory bodies of the newly-established Dow varsity were in the process of formation and were likely to go functional in a month or two, following which the issues like appointment of a full-time DMC principal, policy for the new admissions at its constituent units, appointment of registrar, controller of examination and other officials could be considered and resolved.

He said that any suggestion regarding DMC and Sindh Medical College students, already enrolled with the University of Karachi, could be considered by the syndicate of the Dow varsity, if deemed necessary.

Dr Salahuddin Afsar, Chairperson of the Scientific Committee of the annual symposium, said that the pre-symposium workshops would be held at different venues, including, Arag Auditorium of the college, Department of Plastic Surgery, Surgical Unit at the Lyari General Hospital, Faculty Lounge, DMC Surgical Unit-II and Cardiology Unit.

He said that among others, Prof Azhar Farooqui, Prof Anwarul Islam, Dr Javed Rizvi, Dr Sharyar Khan, Dr Nabeela Ali and Dr Zhegum Abbas would also speak on different occasion during the symposium. He said that first plenary lecture, Khawaja Moinuddin Memorial Lecture, on "Ethical Research for Development" would be delivered by Prof Dr Manzoor Ahmad, while Dr Asim Ahmad from the Aga Khan University would speak at the second plenary session on "Global ethics in research."

The secretary of the organizing committee, Dr Zarnaz Wahid, Dr Naheed Sultan and Prof Younis Soomro, also spoke at the press conference. The doctors' conference also included a gala dinner with a musical event and skits, mainly involving talented medical students and doctors, Prof Younis Soomro said.