Experts at the 24th National Conference of Pakistan Society of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery (PSORL) called for steps in the introduction of new developments in ENT specialty and absorption of new changes by the practitioners concerned in the country.
The 3-day 24th National Conference was jointly organized by PSORL and Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) at a local hotel in Karachi. The Conference has been organized under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Muhammad Saleem Marfani, Chairman Department of Otorhinolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Dow University of Health Sciences. The Conference aimed to provide an opportunity to ENT Specialists to share their views regarding recent advancements, disease pattern, various approaches and also provided the budding consultants an opportunity to present their research for discussion and accreditation. Expert from all over the country including USA , UK , UAE, Malaysia , India and other countries attended the Conference.
Prof. Dr. Masood Hameed Khan, Vice Chancellor Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) addressing as the Chief Guest on the occasion lauded the PSORL for organizing the event regularly. He suggested that the conference should focus on human resource development, research work, training undergraduates, postgraduates and faculty. At the conclusion a unanimous resolution should be passed on these suggestions in order to set goals for next year.
He further said that overseas Pakistanis including doctors have maintained soft image of Pakistan in the world. Pakistan is a home country and Pakistanis should own their country.
Dr. Zakirullah, General Secretary, Pakistan Society of Otolaryngology, Head & Neck Surgery (PSORL) presented Annual Report of the Society. He said that PSORL had organised various health symposiums, seminars, workshops and other academic programs all over the country.
At the Scientific Session, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Amjad from College of Physician and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) said the problem behind the reducing number of ENT specialists in the country could be social aspects and financial constraint and overall large number of female students coming out of the undergraduate medical institutions, majority of whom either dropped medical pursuits or liked the specialties of their convenience.
He informed that there were 48 recognised training institutes in the ENT specialty with 81 supervisors and 183 trainees of FCPS programme whereas majority of the institutes belonged to the public sector or Pakistan armed forces, only two were giving training in Azad Kashmir, three in Balochistan, 43 in KPK, 99 in Punjab and 36 in Sindh.
He called for steps for introduction of new developments to the ENT specialty and absorption of new changes by the practitioners concerned in the country. He suggested rotation of FCPS trainees from one institution to other in different years of the training. Arrangements should also be made for English language proficiency and maximum oncall duties including the night hours for the trainees, while CPSP should also hold frequent workshops in the ENT specialty for the postgraduate trainees, noted another doctor.
Prof. Tariq Rafi, Vice Chancellor, Sindh Medical University said that both the trainees and the trainers needed to be evaluated from the competence point of view. Equal and identical exposures should also be ensured for all trainees across the country. There was a need to increase the skill of the trainees on the descriptive sides because many appeared weak in patient history writing while they excelled in objective questions.
Brig. Zubair Ahmed said that more exposure of trainees was needed and it should also be ensured that training centres provided adequate opportunities to its trainees.
Prof. Muhammad Manzoor, HoD ENT Dept, Fatima Jinnah Medical College Lahore said there was a need to bring about changes in the examination pattern and making the specialty more attractive financially and updated training wise.