20000227

5 to 7 pc

patients die

of rheumatic disorder

every year

KARACHI: Some five to seven percent of people die of Rheumatology disease every year in Pakistan.

In Pakistan with a population of 130 million, only three centres of Rheumatology are functioning at Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad.

This was stated at the fifth annual international symposium on "new challenges in new century" of Pakistan Society of Rheumatology inaugurated by Provincial Health Minister Prof S.M. Rab at a local hotel here on Saturday.

Some 150 delegates from Japan, the UK, Qatar and Indonesia besides Pakistan are attending the symposium.

Speaking on the occasion Prof Rab underlined the need for modern knowledge and training for doctors to ensure better treatment for patients. It is essential to be well abreast with the fast changing modern technology.

The minister appreciated the holding of symposium on such professional topics and observed that for the treatment of Rheumatic patients, training was needed not only for doctors but also for physiotherapists and occupational therapists.

He was confident that this symposium would prove beneficial in the exchange of modern knowledge and better training for doctors. He assured the society of all cooperation of the Sindh government in this respect.

Society President Dr Khurram Chaudhry said rheumatology was a major crippling disease in the world and it could affect 98 percent population.

In Pakistan, he pointed out, less than 50 beds were allocated for this disease and according to an estimate, there was one bed for half-a-million people. He stressed the need for having more centres for rehabilitation of rheumatic patients.

He said in Pakistan there was no arrangement for post graduation in rheumatology and it was essential that our medical universities and colleges should organise training for the physicians.

Dr Chaudhry said that Pakistan had only 15 experts in rheumatology and the country was considered as backward in the treatment and provision of facilities. He said only one percent of Pakistani doctors going abroad for training, return to Pakistan.

Society Chairperson Dr Azra Ali highlighted the aims and objectives of the society and spotlighted its role in imparting professional training. She said the society had organised a number of seminars and symposiums in this regard which have yielded good results.ÑAPP