KARACHI: As many as 330 consultants and 90 specialists of College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) were conferred degrees at its 52nd CPSP Convocation held at Karachi on Friday.
Chief Guest of CPSP Convocation at Karachi, Governor Sindh Mohammad Zubair Umer, in his speech paid tributes firstly to all the graduating fellows and members of CPSP, and their parents and spouses who have taken such good care in upbringing their children and partners, who have attained such high qualifications.
He also thanked College Council for inviting him at an institution which has international recognition.
“I am the Chancellor of all Universities by virtue of being Governor Sindh, but have never come across a postgraduate institution of medical sciences, whose degrees and diplomas are respected and recognised by the West,” he added.
He also expressed his commendation on the democratic management of CPSP, where all fellows regularly elect and their elections are respected and implemented too. He expressed his amazement over the examinations of CPSP which is being participated by foreign and western postgraduate medical specialists.
Governor said he feels honoured to be among such elite of medical specialists of Pakistan. He told that last night he was at a gathering where he was told that Pakistan’s bankers and doctors are the cream which is internationally recognized and respected. Today, I am here to see and participate in these doctors Convocation. It gives me great pleasure to be here.
He said that with the raising of economic level of Pakistan, we would be needing more and more such specialist doctors in the country.
Governor awarded gold medal to Dr Rabia Ali, who won Maj. Gen. Iftikhar Malik gold medal in Histopathology.
President CPSP, Prof Zafar Ullah Chaudhry, in his welcome address, said that people of Pakistan deserve and need comprehensive healthcare which includes specialist healthcare from specialized medical manpower.
President CPSP invited attention of the guest to the term of Primary healthcare, which hitherto meant medical treatment for mundane ailments, as it excluded treatment of complex diseases or those requiring comprehensive care. The concepts of primary care physician was that of first contact physician, supposed to provide treatment and coordinated care for all diseases, or in case he doesn’t have the facility, go for a referral to appropriate facility and physician. Primary care should always be considered to provide comprehensive healthcare which includes specialist care too.
He said it is the basic right of every person to get comprehensive medical care through primary care physician providing a link to continuum of healthcare delivery.
But Comprehensive healthcare, said Prof Chaudhry, in a country depends upon its ability to produce adequate number of competent specialized health professionals. This, thus becomes the joint responsibility of all the stakeholders of country to make coordinated efforts towards provision of comprehensive healthcare to all the people of Pakistan.
CPSP, as one of the stakeholders, has done and will continue to develop specialized medical manpower for the country. CPSP has by now given the country over 20,000 fellows (consultants) and over 9,000 members (specialists) towards that end.
During 2017 alone, CPSP has certified and admitted 1,621 fellows (consultants) and 295 members (specialists) during 2017 and who would be getting their degrees and diplomas at 4 different convocations to be held in three other cities of Pakistan besides Karachi.
Here at this component of convocation, 330 fellows (consultants) and 90 members (specialists) are being awarded degrees, told the President.
CPSP at present has 22,638 residents (trainees) in various stages at 274 institutions of which 64 are overseas with 3,412 supervisors (193 overseas included).
All these institutions, within Pakistan or abroad, have been inspected and found to be having capacity to train our trainees in their respective disciplines, having proper updated infrastructure. All these 3,412 supervisors do meet the requirements of having at least 5 years teaching experience after post-graduation in their discipline and must have participated in College developed mandatory workshops.
Prof Chaudhry said that he is confident that CPSP has trained and tested its residents (trainees) not only in their medical specialization, but also imparted values of empathy, love for humanity, care and devoted attention to the ailing and to heal them in all parts of the Country.
The qualifying fellows and members would not only serve the patients with energy and competence; but would also reach the remotest parts of country to extend their healing hand on all; rich and poor, illiterate and scholar, men and women, child and adult, city labourer and farmer in a village.