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KARACHI: Dow
University of Health Science (DUHS) Karachi which was established in
December, 2003 has completed six years and more than fifty new
institutions, departments, units have been added. It started with only
three institutions i.e Dow Medical College, Sindh Medical College, and
Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases. Main emphasis of the university is to
focus on three main domains like academic excellence, human resource
development and community health care services. This was stated by Prof.
Masood Hameed Khan, Vice Chancellor, DUHS while addressing a media
briefing arranged at Dow International recently.
Prof. Masood Hameed Khan, Vice Chancellor, DUHS,
Karachi briefing the media personnel about the functioning of various
departments of DUHS.
Giving details of various projects and activities of DUHS, Prof, Masood
Hameed said university has established a department of Medical Education
in accordance with international standards where integrated, objective
based curriculum has been introduced. Semester system, structural
practical and clinical examination (OSPE & OSCE) has also been
introduced besides skills curriculum designed for undergraduate skills
lab to provide hands on training. Examination department is automated,
it has special software to generate question paper from the Q bank as
per specification. One hundred physicians have been trained in computer
learning centre besides six hundred teachers from various educational
institutes. Health insurance policy for the employees of DUHS was
announced from July 2008 and it includes treatment at high standard
private hospitals of the city, he added.
Continuing Prof. Masood Hameed said that Professional Development Centre
was established for hands on training workshops besides guest lectures
for CME and it is equipped with state of the art equipments. Digital
Library having 300 work stations at five different campus has been
arranged. Department of IT, Research, Clinical Trial Unit Quality
Enhancement Cell, department of planning and development are other major
departments working under umbrella of DUHS.
Dr. Ishrat-ul-Ebad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences is located at
the campus of Sindh Medical College. The building in which this Dental
Institute is established is more than hundred years old, which has been
completely renovated as per modern standard while maintaining its
heritage. It provides BDS courses and postgraduate courses. PMDC has
given permission to only three colleges for one hundred admissions and
this institute is one of them. CPSP has also recognized it for FCPS and
MDS training.
Dow International Medical College, Prof.. Masood Hameed stated has been
established and a new modern building covering an area of one hundred
seventy five thousand sqft is fully equipped with most modern equipment.
Presently three hundred fifty students are studying. Gymnasium and
sports complex is in final stages besides a cricket ground. Dow College
of Pharmacy was established in early 2007 to train pharmacist. In
institute of Basic Medical Sciences , presently one hundred ten students
are undertaking M.Phil and PhD programmes. Four hundred students are
enrolled in Institute of Medical Technology and Institute of Physical
Medicine, and rehabilitation. From artificial Limb center more that 1200
people have been provided artificial prosthesis free of cost even
ambulated hands are also provided. Institute of Nursing was established
in 2006 where two batches of fifty nurses have passed out and two
hundred students are enrolled at present. Two years Masters program has
been started at the Institute of Health Management, he added.
Prof. Masood Hameed further stated that Dow Diagnostic Research and
Reference Laboratory has been established to provide reliable, high
quality diagnostic services of International standard for all possible
tests at extremely economical rates. Besides the main lab, there are
three collection centers at different locations. It is equipped with the
modern equipments and also provides research facilities. Cryosection
facility has also been provided to have an immediate report on frozen
section for molecular pathology so as to help surgeons in demarcating
residual cancer tissue. Tissues Repository for research has been
developed to identify bio markers on tissue samples in order, to improve
diagnosis and treatment efficacy in cancers. Dow Radiology Complex is
equipped with modern equipments having complete range of radiology
machine including CT Scan of 16 Slice, 3D imaging with multiplanner. MRI
1.5 Tesla, mammography. Ten Ultrasound machines with Color Doppler,
Fluoroscopy and the required X-Ray machines.
Sarwar Zuberi Liver Centre, Prof. Masood Hameed informed provides
treatment to patients of liver diseases besides screening, immunization
and other required treatment. At present about twelve thousand patients
are being treated here. Considering the burden of the disease National
Institute of Liver and GI diseases has been established at Sindh Medical
College as a separate institute, so as to provide all possible treatment
under one roof, with possibility of Liver transplant which is expected
within two years time. National Institute of Diabetes and Endocrinology
(NIDE) takes care of diabetic patients and provides free consultation
and treatment of eye complications with laser. It also provides
postgraduate training in Masters of Diabetes.
Dow University Hospital has been established near Dow International
Medical College. It will be a 500 bedded hospital with all departments.
The hospital is almost ready to function where as the outdoor patients
department has already started. A separate 200 beds TB hospital is under
construction which will provide all possible facilities to TB patients.
Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases (OICD) has been treating TB patients
since 1942. Now it has a separate BSL 3 lab facilities, besides ICU to
provide free treatment.
DUHS is planning to develop new “MDR TB Institute” to help patients
having multidrug resistant tuberculosis, which is a great problem in
Pakistan and its treatment is very expensive. Vocational Technical and
Training centre has been established as a social welfare program.
Department of Infectious Diseases having covered area of 1,25000 sq ft
is near completion. It will have a facility for isolating patients with
contagious diseases. Postgraduate medical science research centre is
under construction. The advancement in medical knowledge have revealed
that study of genetics is necessary to identify the cause of medical
problems for early rectification. Looking in to the importance of this
subject Department of Medical Genetics (Jinnah Genome Centre) is also
being established. Department of Biophysics has been established for
postgraduate research in biomedical sciences for research and education.
Pharmaceutical and Environmental Research Laboratory has been
established to provide bioequivalence studies and for testing drugs.
Learning Resource Centre is almost complete, it has a separate floor to
be a public library, besides having cubicles designated for legends of
Urdu literature and a reference library with large number of books.
Medical Research City has been established on 130 acres of land at Ojha
Campus of DUHS. Its master plan includes most of the above mentioned new
departments and institutes along with a designated place for future
developments of new institutes and a convention centre with the vision
and mission to be a future Educational Hub, not only for Pakistan but
the whole of Asia or subcontinent, Prof. Masood Hameed concluded. |
