ISLAMABAD: This congress shall act as a bridge between research and academic activities fostering an advanced industry to provide health care solutions for the ailing humanity.
The 1st Annual National Scientific Congress (NSC) is being organized by Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University (STMU) and Shifa International Hospitals Ltd in partnership with Association of Physicians of Pakistani Descent of North America (APPNA-USA) and Association of Pakistani Physicians and Surgeons of UK (APPS-UK); along with leading and renowned national collaborators including Higher Education Commission, Fauji Foundation Hospital among others. NSC will be held at the Pak-China Friendship Centre, Islamabad on the 15th and 16th of Dec, 2018; and shall be preceded by two days of pre-congress activities encompassing workshops, master classes and group discussions at various campuses & venues of the Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University and Shifa International Hospitals Ltd. respectively on the 13th& 14th Dec, 2018.
A press briefing was organized in this regard at National Press Club on 10thDecember, 2018. Speaking on the occasion Prof, Mohammad Iqbal, Chairman, NSC said that “NSC shall be a unique scientific forum in Pakistan”. He encouraged Journalists to highlight the positive aspects of this educational event to encourage participation of healthcare professionals from various fields ultimately enabling positive debate about provisioning of quality healthcare in Pakistan. Other panelists included secretary of the congress Prof. Dr. Tausif Ahmed Rajput, Convener of the congress Dr. Saeedullah Shah and Secretary Scientific Sessions Dr. Hadi Khan
The vision of Congress revolves around “Innovation” in medical research and practices, “Integration” of new ideas and disciplines, and “Application” of research outcomes to address our National issues. The congress is planned in a manner that there will be parallel sessions on innovation revolving around use of latest technologies like robotics, cyber knife, palliative care, digital health etc. At the same time, there will be discussions on integration of different disciplines to improve patient & health care moving towards its application and targeting to achieve the sustainable development goals of quality healthcare services in Pakistan.
Though this conference invites a wide array of international speakers from around the globe, thereby classifying it as an International event; however, it has been humbly referred to as a National Congress because of its focus around National health issues. Participants shall get an opportunity to share their experiences, research outcomes and opinions with international and national speakers/experts froma variety of domains, thereby opening an avenue for collaborative research and outreach.
Over 2000 health care experts, subject authorities and scientists are expected to deliberate on recent trends in healthcare, management, diagnostics, therapeutics, land mark trials, discoveries & updates in range of specialties. The themes will underpin the need for collaboration and cooperation of individuals from a wide range of professional backgrounds, aiming at promotion of local, multi-centric and indigenous research to come up with the solution of various health care issues.
The congress shall act as a central hub for academic research and industry linkage from the University Office of Research, Innovation and Commercialization (ORIC) platform. The ultimate aim of scientific research, after all, is to improve the human condition and so aiding the transfer and commercialization of discoveries serves the interests of the inventor, industry and the society at-large.
Experts also shared that this congress shall act as a bridge between research and academic activities in the University, and the technological advancements and their applications in the hospitals; which acts as an industry to provide health care solutions for the ailing humanity. It shall pave a path for “creating” knowledge throughout the year by organizing research activities, workshops, master classes, collaborative discussions etc. in the right direction; and consolidate outcomes of these activities by holding this mega annual event; thereby finally “disseminating” the results and inviting industrial and public sector linkage for its application, policy making and opportunities for commercialization. Although the vision and goals of this congress seem very ambitious; the organizing institutions were confident and determined to achieve them gradually through consistent hard work and intelligent utilization of national resources and talent pool.
