UHS global moot begins: simulation technology next step in medical education: experts

"Using individuals who are trained to act as real patients, along with simulation technology, is the next step forward in medical education for providing health professionals and students with safe and effective learning at absolutely no risk to patients." This was highlighted by health experts in global conference inaugurated at the University of Health Sciences (UHS) on Friday.
The three-day conference on "Simulations, Simulated and Standardised patients in Health Professions' Education" is being organised in collaboration with Higher Education Commission, Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, Pakistan Medical Research Council and Pakistan Sciences Foundation. Dr Kay Mohanna from Keele University School of Medicine, UK while addressing the participants has said that use of simulated and standardised patients (SPs) for assessment in medical education is increasing.
"In the UK, since 2008, the Royal College of General Practitioners has used role players in its high stakes, end point licensing exam for the Clinical Skills Assessment of the MRCGP exam, and without passing that exam, general practitioners can no longer practice in the UK", Dr Kay informed. Dr David Taylor from University of Liverpool, UK, said that simulation could give the maximum benefit to the students, and gave staff and students appropriate levels of confidence in the ability to perform clinical skills.
Dr Vikram Jha from the Liverpool Women's Hospital, UK, focussed in his talk on the pedagogic frameworks for patients' involvement in medical education, the strategies that may be adopted to enhance engagement and the challenges of such involvement.
The chief guest of the inaugural ceremony, noted surgeon and former principal of King Edward Medical College Lahore, Professor Dr Ijaz Ahsan has said that healthcare and medical education had considerably improved in the country over the years. UHS Vice Chancellor Major General Professor Muhammad Aslam (Retd) has said that in order to achieve the objective of practitioner's competency akin to global standards and to satisfy the ethical need of patient rights, it was vital to make simulation-based training an integral part of medical education in Pakistan.
UHS Pro VC and the Organising Secretary of the conference, Professor Junaid Sarfraz Khan has said that the conference had brought together various schools of thought in support of the wide use of simulation technology and those who argue that it should be used in moderation. The Executive Director of Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr Mansoor Akbar Kundi stressed the need to raise the standards of education. He said that HEC would support all such academic activities which are meant to bring paradigm changes in healthcare delivery system.
On this occasion, VC Liaqat University of Medical and Health Sciences, Jamshoro, Professor Noshad A Shaikh, Professor Dr Gominda Pannamperuma, Dr Tariq Mufti, Professor Musarratul Hussnain and others also spoke. More than 700 health professionals, educationists, healthcare delivery provides, policy makers, medical students, allied health experts are attending the three-day conference. The scientific programme of the conference comprises workshops, keynote speeches, paper and poster presentations, short training courses, hands-on training sessions, a book fair and an exhibition.