Islamabad: (Parliament Times) President Azad Jammu and Kashmir Sardar Masood Khan has said that the incumbent Government has its eyes set on making the best possible health facilities available in the far-flung areas of AJK.
The President made these remarks while addressing the 1st Convocation of the AJK Medical College, Muzaffarabad here at the state capital.
The President while addressing the event, President Masood Khan felicitated the faculty, students and their parents on the successful completion of their medical studies. He said that this was just the beginning of their illustrious careers and they must continue to concentrate on pursuing excellence in their academic and professional fields. He said the key to success is to exude confidence and not be reluctant in taking up challenges.
Underscoring the importance of social responsibility, the President said that as doctors they must show compassion and empathy in dealing with their patients. Your foremost duty, he said, was service to society, to treat your patients with utmost dignity and commitment, all the while maintaining doctor-patient confidentiality.
Referring to Hippocrates’ oath, President AJK said that you are healers of the ill and must not bear ill-will, maleficence or harm; your practice must only be for benign purposes. He said, “Today you owe your success to the hard work of your teachers and selfless devotion of your parents. You can not overlook or ignore their sacrifices.”
He urged the successful students to peek a glimpse into our magnificent history, where scientists like Ibn Sina, Al Biruni, Al Khwarizmi and Al Khayyam had presented some of the greatest known works in fields like medicine, algebra, optics, trigonometry and astronomy. In this context, he said these personalities must be your inspiration; and academic excellence, the pursuit of innovation and research must be your aspiration.
The President – who is also the Chancellor of Public Sector Universities in AJK – highlighted the need to build a knowledge-based economy to compete with global standards of prosperity and progress. He asserted onto them in learning modern and latest techniques of medicine like robotic surgeries, transplantation, interventional radiology, genetic engineering, vitro-fertilization, and other new-age medical techniques. Similarly, the doctors must research in indigenously developing vaccines; and producing reliable and cost-effective medicines for the benefit of the masses.
President Masood Khan said that the present Government is taking constructive efforts in providing universal access to health by improving health facilities right down from the Basic Health Units up to hospitals established in the sub-divisions and divisions. He said that we are dire need of committed medical practitioners to cater to the growing demand of patients. He said the AJK Government will eliminate ghost doctors, nurses and will launch a crackdown against quacks operating in the region.
President AJK while addressing the students said that being global citizens in this age of connectivity must connect with their peers and the global civil society in highlighting the plight of their Kashmiri brothers and sisters in Indian Occupied Kashmir. “The matter should be taken up with renewed vigour, conviction, and consistency to sensitize the world of the gross human right violations taking place in IOK.”
On the occasion, the President also awarded distinction medals and shields to the position holders on their successful accomplishments.
The ceremony was attended by Member Legislative Assembly, Mustafa Bashir Abbasi; Chief Secretary AJK Dr. Ijaz Munir; Additional Chief Secretary AJK Farhat Mir; VC University of AJK, Muzaffarabad, Prof. Dr. Kaleem Abbasi; Principal AJK Medical College, Muzaffarabad Prof. Dr. Sarosh Majeed Sulehria’; members of the Academic Council, faculty, students and their parents.