Vice-Chancellor University of Karachi (KU) Professor Dr Mohammad Qaiser has said that the medical bodies should play their due role in protection of doctors by approaching authorities concerned. These views he expressed while addressing the 3-day inaugural ceremony of 7th Liaquat National Hospital (LNH) and Medical College Symposium at its auditorium here on late Friday night.
Commenting on the theme of the symposium 'saving patients, protecting doctors' he said this is burning issue which is needed to be addressed seriously. Dr Qaiser said doctors, paramedical staff and nurses in private and government hospitals need protection under a legislation which should be devised at the earliest. He was optimistic that the government would take some pragmatic steps in order to safeguard doctors and other staff.
Expressing his concern, he said the incidents of violence on doctors have become a routine matter, adding the way of violence has distressed the relation of doctor and patient. The VC said not only doctors have to face agony if they are attacked, but the patients also have to suffer as a result of such incidents due to interruption of services provided by the doctors.
He said the LNH was a tiny hospital but it was developed leaps and bounds and now it is prime institution of the country. The hospital has not only well-developed infrastructure but also qualified and expert team of doctors, he added. Medical Director LNH Dr Salman Faridi gave detailed presentation on past, present and future of the hospital. He recalled the achievements and developments during the 60-year journey of LNH.
The Symposium will give participants the opportunity to present their work before a large peer group and allow them to engage in dialogue with colleagues from across the country to evolve policies and strategies for dealing with a wide spectrum of disease. This exchange of ideas could contribute significantly to improving the quality of care we provide to our patients he added.
Chairman Symposium Committee Dr Shakil Aqil in his welcome address said that the purpose of the symposium was to promote medical education and research. He stressed the need to do more in research for benefit of patients. Dr Aqil said the attendants and bereaved families must understand the difference between negligence and complication. He said negligence should be investigated under a system.
Earlier, a walk was held entitled 'saving students, protecting doctors', in the premises of the hospital. The students, doctors and paramedical staff carrying placards and banners inscribed with slogans marched form Gate 1 to Gate 3 of LNH led by MD Dr Salman Faridi and Dr Salman Sharif. More over a state of art research and development center inaugurated at LNH to facilitate Doctors and Paramedical Staff for better treatment. Later, the awards were distributed among the organising committee of the symposium.