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Cardiologists' role in preventing heart diseases emphasised

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Social Sector Ms Shahnaz Wazir Ali on Saturday called upon cardiologists to play an effective role in creating awareness among people regarding the prevention of heart ailments.

"The new life style in the fast moving world exerts pressure on the hearts of the working people even in developing countries like Pakistan. As such the role of cardiologists and family physicians has gained importance as they are better placed to educate people about the preventive measures of heart diseases," she said at the concluding session of the Biennial International Congress of Cardiology.

Cardiologists should educate the logic of the age-old adage that prevention is better than cure, she stressed.

She underlined the importance of emergency medical care, saying that timely care could certainly save many precious lives.

Shahnaz asked the Congress to consider the introduction of the relevant information pertaining to cardiology and preventive care in educational institutions curricula. She said the information may also be used for health education campaign through the media.

She said, the government, would introduce a community oriented medical education in four medical colleges to prepare community oriented doctors in the next academic year.

With help from World Health Organization (WHO) this approach would be introduced in all medical colleges in public sector in due course of time , she added.

She said the government "has launched a Masters Course in Public Health which is into the third month at Health Academy at Islamabad".

The government she said, was also redressing the lack of indigenous research in medical and pharmaceutical fields.

The Health Ministry, she said, has started utilizing funds for three pharmaceutical research projects.

The government has inihated a programme in collaboration with France which provide better care to burn-victims.

Dr Afzal M Mattoo, Convener of the Congress, Brig. Dr Masud ur Rehman, President of Pakistan Cardiac Society underscored the challenges facing the field of cardiology in the face of technological as well as clinical developments and the rapid changing styles of life in the society.

Dr Shahid Abbas presented the vote of thanks and recommended that smoking, fatty diets and stress should be avoided and exercises be adopted to prevent the rise in heart diseases.-APP