Pakistan urged to expand robotic surgery network


IV Report

KARACHI: A two-day international symposium on robotic surgery, hosted by the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), highlighted the potential of this technology to improve patient outcomes and stressed the need for its expanded adoption across Pakistan.

The symposium, held on February 14 and 15, featured discussions, hands-on training, and collaborative efforts to advance surgical expertise. SIUT has been at the forefront of robotic surgery in Pakistan since 2017, with over 600 procedures performed using a shared Da Vinci robotic system at Civil Hospital Karachi, according to a SIUT press releases.

“In 2021, SIUT established its own Kassim Parekh Robotic and Laparoscopy Unit, featuring the Versius robotic surgical system, which has performed over 2,000 successful surgeries in urological, hepatobiliary, and colorectal segments.”

International and local speakers, including Professor Khurshid Guru from the US, Dr Nauman Zaffar from Lahore, and Professor Adeel Khan from the University of Washington, shared their experiences and highlighted the transformative impact of robotics on modern surgery.

Professor Guru spoke on the “revolutionary” role of robotics in pelvic surgery, while Dr Zaffar discussed the cost-effectiveness and feasibility of robotic surgery in Pakistan’s public sector hospitals.

The conference covered a wide range of topics, including the cost-effectiveness and feasibility of robotic surgery in Pakistan's public sector hospitals, robotic liver transplantation, and urological, hepatobiliary, general, and gynecological robotic surgery applications.

The concluding session called for expanding the network of robotic surgery across Pakistan, emphasising its potential to provide relief and cure to the ailing population. Speakers noted that robotic surgery is a state-of-the-art technology that can improve patient outcomes.

The outgoing president of the Pakistan Robotic Society, Prof M Saeed Quraishy, and Dr Irfan Rizvi, a visiting surgeon from the US, highlighted that robotic-assisted procedures are accessible and free of charge at SIUT, regardless of patients' socio-economic backgrounds.

Other speakers, including Badar Mian, Dr Sajida Qureshi, Andre De Silva, Javaid Iqbal, Vipul Patel, and Rashid Mazhar, discussed various aspects of robotic surgery, including accuracy, minimum time frame, ethical considerations, training, and infrastructure.

Anila Kazmi, Dr Riaz Leghari, and Naveed Mehar also spoke at the conference, which was attended by experts and surgeons from Pakistan and abroad.

Saad Aldousari of Kuwait along with Pakistan’s Naresh Kumar, Harris Qureshi, Shahid Rasool, Shadab Khan, and Samia Malik—shared their experiences in urological, hepatobiliary, general, and gynecological robotic surgery applications.

A diverse panel of specialists also held, with Rehan Mohsin of SIUT, C Mallikarjuna, Pranjul Modi, both from India, on the first day.

 

 Photo courtesy: SIUT

  

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

KU syndicate takes decisions on appointments, terminations

Image
IV report KARACHI: Under Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid M Iraqi's guidance, the University of Karachi (KU) syndicate made key decisions on August 31, including appointments of department chairpersons, termination of two lecturers. The syndicate approved appointments of six department chairpersons and a director of institute: Professor Dr Sobia Anees Shahzad (Sociology), Professor Dr Shamshad Akhtar (Geography), Professor Dr Abdul Wahab (Microbiology), Dr Saima Akhtar (Public Administration), Dr Rahila Rehmat Zehra (Biotechnology) and Zaima Israr Mohiuddin (Commerce). Dr Irfan Aziz was appointed Director of Dr M Ajmal Khan Institute of Sustainable Halophytes Utilisation. The syndicate decided to remove two lecturers of the Physics department --Rabia Najam and Omair Ishaque-- from the services in the light of two separate inquiry reports, said a KU press release. The statutory body also endorsed recommendations of the university’s committee on unfair means for cancellation o...
Read more

KU syndicate greenlights SHEC building on campus, despite reservations

Image
By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: The University of Karachi (KU) syndicate accepted a request from the Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC) to construct a complex on a two-acre prime land, despite some members' reservations. A four-member committee, headed by Engineer Memon Abdul Jabbar, will finalise the proposed land transfer modalities for the consideration of syndicate. The committee comprises three syndicate members, including two government appointees and a provincial government nominee. Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi chaired the meeting, addressing concerns raised by members, on August 31. According to a KU press release, the Sindh Higher Education Commission (SHEC) requested two acres of land for its building. The KU syndicate addressed concerns by stipulating that the SHEC building will be non-commercial and the land will remain KU property. “Upon SHEC's departure, KU administration will manage and govern the building." However, independent qua...
Read more

University of Karachi syndicate meeting mired in controversy

Image
IV Report KARACHI: The sixth meeting of the University of Karachi's syndicate for 2024, held on October 31, was marked by intense debate on several issues, including the promotion of 54 university officers to higher grades. A senior faculty member, Dr Riaz Ahmed, a syndicate member, expressed concerns that the university administration applies different criteria for promoting teaching and non-teaching staff. Despite the syndicate approving promotions for over 50 officers in grades 18 to 20, Dr Ahmed pointed out to the chair of the meeting, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid M Iraqi, that the departmental promotion committee violated the syndicate's set policy by not including a syndicate member in the promotion committee, as decided in 2018. He also highlighted that eight candidates received higher grades under the Incentive Scheme, despite already availing of the benefit twice, which undermines the rules. Other contentious issues included disagreements over the minutes of ...
Read more