The National Medical Newspaper Pakistans First Independent Medical Periodical from Karachi Vol. 52 No. 17 February 15-29, 2020 Published Fortnightly Reg. No. ID. MC-153 ISSN 1728-1520 Controlled Circulation Robotic and dimensional Induction of 900 5th Pharma Summit FBR starts Inside laparoscopic ... 03 trainee medical ... 05 by PPMA 06 crackdown on ... 12 THE MYSTERY OF GAS LEAK PMC ordinance Death toll mounts amid null and void by IHC confusion over source MN Report ISLAMABAD - The Islamabad High Court recently declared Pakistan Medical and MN Report health ministry came up with the patients were collected Dental Council (PMDC) dissolution null and KARACHI - As per sources, the latest casualty figures. and sent to Aga Khan void and restored the dissolved Pakistan the death toll from the "To conclude the report, 14 University Hospital and Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) by mysterious gas leak rose to patients expired," said the International Center for setting aside the presidential ordinance 14, recently. Many Chemical and people have been Biological Sciences hospitalised ever (ICCBS) for further since the leak was investigation and first noticed. The analytical study. people of the Efforts to affected areas took determine the to the streets, cause or even the accusing the exact place of gas administration of leak failed to throw that had replaced the PMDC with the paying only lip up anything Pakistan Medical Commission over three service over the conclusive. and a half months ago. grave issues involved. Special Health Secretary in The International Centre for Giving a short verdict, which had been After a brief respite earlier, the his report to Chief Minister Chemical and Biological reserved in PMDC dissolution case on Jan situation began deteriorating Syed Murad Ali Shah. Sciences at the University of 8, Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani declared again when a number of It is pertinent to mention here Karachi suspected that 'soya that the ordinance that repealed the PMDC people, including women and that 258 patients were bean dust (aeroallergens)' was was ultra vires, held that the PMC formation children, were rushed to examined and 232 were behind the problem. However, was not authorised by the law and directed private and government discharged after treatment and a study conducted by a private the federal government to reinstate the hospitals. This exercise 12 patients were under laboratory assisting the Sindh sacked employees of the PMDC. President continued till sunrise. Finally observation in relevant environment authorities spoke Arif Alvi had promulgated the PMC in the evening, the Sindh hospitals. The specimens of Continued on Page 09 Continued on Page 09 Nationwide polio eradication Founder: Ayaz Mahmood campaign begins Publisher: M Hassan Mahmood MN Report Chief Executive: Syed Hashim Hasan /MedicalNewsPk ISLAMABAD - The year's first nationwide December last Online Editor: Haseeb Uddin /MedicalNewsPk polio vaccination drive has been all set to year, the nation is Assistant Editor: begin recently, apart from Karachi where all set to Dr Muattar Hanif the campaign began a week ago, aiming undertake aggressive Honorary Advisor: Dr Sulman Akhtur to vaccinate approximately 39.6 million measures to push the virus Manager Production children. The campaign would involve nearly back during 2020, setting the stage to root out polio & Coordination: M Irfan Ali medicalnewspk.com 265,000 polio workers going door-to-door from the country once and for all," claimed Special Advertising Manager to inoculate children under the age of five. Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza. Tel: 021-35833172 SM Shakil (0300-2559344) 021-35872289 Earlier, though the National Institute of Health "We have critically reviewed our performance during Business Executives Khawaja Akhlaq Ahmed confirmed five more polio cases from Khyber the last campaign and worked with provincial and district (0342-2393917) Haroon Rashid Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, bringing the tally teams for even better preparedness for the upcoming (Islamabad: 0300-9710774) for the current year so far to 17. vaccination effort," Zafar added. Designing & Layout "Building on the successful national campaign in Continued on Page 09 Sh M Sadiq Ali Coronavirus: Awarness programme to address preventive measures MN Report urged the citizens to protect KARACHI - A public themselves against the awareness seminar titled possible threat from the 2019 "Novel Coronavirus (nCoV) novel coronavirus (2019- and Preventive Strategies" nCoV) in the country, saying PMA calls for increment was recently organized at that the World Health in health budget MN Report by the government," PMA KARACHI - Addressing a recent representatives told. press conference at the MPA Similarly, an effective House, The Pakistan Medical vaccination/immunization program Association officials (PMA) recently should be carried out honestly and demanded increase in the health professionally, to eradicate budget of the country. diseases like polio, TB, whooping Dr S M Qaisar Sajjad, Secretary- cough, diphtheria, measles, General, PMA Centre, Dr Qazi smallpox, hepatitis, typhoid, University of Karachi (KU). Dr Organization (WHO) has Muhammad Wasiq, Dr Muhammad meningitis, pneumonia, mumps, Muhammad Rashid, Senior declared the outbreak of new Sharif Hashmani, President, PMA rubella, and others for good. Research Officer at the coronavirus a global health Karachi Chapter, and Dr Abdul "Unfortunately, healthcare and National Institute of Virology emergency. He told that the Ghafoor Shoro, General-Secretary, education are not priority areas for that works at under the Dr virus had infected more than PMA Karachi spoke to the media our government," noted the PMA. Panjwani Center for Molecular 30,000 people, while more persons regarding the dilemma. "It is the need of the hour that our Medicine and Drug Research than 600 people have died due They said that Pakistan, with a government puts its act together, (PCMD), KU was invited as to the fatal infection in China. population of over 219,006,884, make a people-friendly health Chief Guest. PCMD and the Dr Rashid said that citizens stands fifth in the world, with one policy, increase the health budget, Virtual Education Project were advised to practice the of the fastest-growing populations. concentrate on preventive Pakistan (VEPP) jointly best hygiene. They should "The country is facing challenges healthcare, eliminate corruption, organized the seminar to raise wash their hands frequently like poverty, illiteracy, energy crisis, honor merit, and, above all, public awareness about the and thoroughly for at least 20 terrorism, and, indeed, a massive demonstrate a political will to most important current seconds, or use alcohol-based burden of diseases," PMA told. address the issues of health and challenges that our nation is hand sanitizer if soap and PMA, through its health of the education in the country on a facing. water are not available. nation report, has already priority basis," urged PMA. Virology expert, Dr Rashid Following the global health highlighted these pressing issues They demanded the reinstatement while addressing the audience Continued on Page 09 and offered recommendations. For of the Pakistan Medical and Dental many years, health indicators have Council, which should be an failed to show any positive trend. autonomous, democratic, In fact, in some of the areas, things transparent, and vibrant body have worsened, said in Press comprising of elected and 47 more quackery conference. nominated members as per the The PMA leaders said that 1962 ordinance, with the inclusion outlets sealed according to the WHO's of stakeholders like the PMA and recommendations, the health the PDA. in Sindh budget of a country should at least They demanded a complete MN Report be 6% of the national GDP. In our overhauling of medical education KARACHI - The Directorate of case, the health budget, despite and training of doctors according Anti-Quackery of the Sindh Healthcare the PMA's repeated pleas and to recent trends in the world. They Commission (SHCC) recently sealed 47 reminders to the government, has demanded a people-friendly more quack clinics across the Sindh province remained less than 1%, out of national health policy based on the in a week. Various successful raids were led which 80% is spent on salaries ground realities of the country. against quacks in the province as well. and administrative costs. Out of The PMA spokespersons urged The SHCC has sealed 3,306 healthcare establishments (HCEs) the 20% that is the share of the that adequate health budgets are in Sindh so far. Warnings for non-compliance have also been poor masses, corruption eats up assigned with the assurance that issued to 1046 clinics to date. a major chunk, leaving a negligible the allocated amount would be The Directorate of Licensing & Accreditation received 38 new amount for the poor patients, they spent with honesty. "We demand applications for registration in a week, taking the total number noted. a check on the mushroom growth of applications to 10,500. Certificates were issued to five HCEs "Pakistan carries a heavy burden of medical colleges and universities this week, bringing the total number of issued registration of diseases because of the lack of regarding the faculties, certificates to 9,466. awareness and ignorance and the infrastructure, tuition fee, etc." Meanwhile, the SHCC will also collaborate on the polio campaign poor healthcare delivery system at "We advocate that prevention is with the Sindh government and write letters to hospitals seeking the primary level. Most diseases better than cure must be our support for the polio campaign as well. are preventable through national goal. Print and electronic Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), SHCC, Dr Minhaj vaccination/immunization or by media must allocate some time for Qidwai, held a meeting with the Pakistan Islamic Medical way of simple awareness and the creating awareness of this slogan," Association (PIMA) and encouraged them to plan an awareness provision of some basic facilities the PMA concluded. session for their healthcare providers across the Sindh province.