The steering committee of the World Health Organisation (WHO) has decided to extend the designation of the Department of Medical Education (DME) of the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP), as WHO collaborating Centre for 'Training in Research and Educational Development of Health Personnel' till December 2007.
This decision has been taken after reviewing the performance of the centre and future plans of work, which were found to be excellent.
WHO (Emro region) Regional Director Dr Hussein A. Gezairy, in his letter addressed to CPSP President Professor Mohammad Sultan Farooqui, expressed his deep appreciation for the contribution made so far by the Centre to the advancement of the WHO programme for human resource development.
The terms of reference of the Centre will be development of appropriate strategies for the education and practice of health professionals with increased scope to include undergraduate medical education and para-professionals; collaboration between WHO and DME regarding the orientation of the medical education and medical practice for health for all; assist WHO in conducting training courses and workshops with increased emphasis on research in medical education, which include: curriculum design; instructional design; examination and assessment; research in medical education; implementation of national CME policy, and expand it to include other health professionals; collaboration with the Ministry of Health in developing a national HRH programme.
The Department of Medical Education was established in the CPSP in 1979. The Government of Pakistan designated it a 'National Teacher Training Centre'.
In 1996, the World Health Organisation designated it 'WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Educational Development of Health Personnel' for the EMRO region, which is involved in eclectic activities.
The objectives of the department is to provide guidance and training to the professionals, who would, in turn, teach medical students.
The department evolves strategies for the education and practice of health professionals, develops educational methodology, assists in the preparation of examinations, and carries out post-exam analysis. Many of these steps are crucial to attaining and sustaining of quality assurance, a phenomenon of prime concern to the CPSP.
The WHO Collaborating Centre for 'Training in Research and Educational Development of Health Personnel" also organises a variety of workshops and courses on educational concepts, methodology and their applications to health professionals' education. Through these workshops, teachers associated in health care professions, physicians, nurses and paramedical staff are introduced to the science of education and its application to their day-to-day working.
The Centre holds regular developmental and review meetings for exchange of innovative ideas and critique of the current format in order to provide the latest information to national and international medical experts.
The WHO Collaborating Centre staff well-versed in the art and science of facilitation and content of the sessions, hold all these programmes, for trainees and trainers in cities of Pakistan.-PR
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