31st PMA Biennial Medical Conference held in Lahore

Lahore: The 31st Biennial Medical Conference of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) was held at a local hotel in Lahore from 7th to 9th November 2014.

The grand conference was attended by more than 2000 doctors and medical students from the country and abroad. 75 scientific sessions were presented on topics including Suregry, Gynecology & Obstetrics, Maternal and Child Health, Anaesthesiology, Dermatology, Infectious Diseases, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Medical Education Training and Patient care. As part of this Biennial Conference, 40 workshops were also held in Lahore and Karachi. The inaugural session of the conference was graced by the Governor of Punjab Mr. Muhammad Sarwar Chaudhry and the Health Minister of Punjab.

After the welcome address by President PMA Lahore Dr Tanveer Anwar, Dr Aziz Ahmed Lehri from Balochistan was tenured as President of Pakistan Medical Association for the next 2 years. The elections of PMA Centre were held, and following candidates were elected unopposed; Prof M Ashraf Nizami (President Elect), Dr Mirza Ali Azhar (Secretary General), Dr SM Qaisar Sajjad (Treasurer), Dr Talha Sherwani (Joint Secretary -1), Dr Bashir Channa (Joint Secretary-II) and Prof M Idrees Adhi (Chairman Editorial Board-JPMA)

Despite several resolutions, the Central Council meeting and General Body deplored the establishment of Provincial Higher Education Commission in Sindh and the appointment of an under-qualified person as its Chairman. The same person is now using political influence in Sindh assembly for the Sindh Medical & Dental Council (SMDC) Bill.

The Central Council and General Body of PMA strongly opposed the provincial HEC, and proposed parallel establishment of Medical and Dental Council in Sindh. They further stated that if the Government approves this process despite the strong opposition by major stakeholders like PMA, the matter will be taken to Supreme Court of Pakistan.

This meeting took serious note of unconstitutional activity initiated by a few people in Sindh causing disintegration of federal institutions like HEC & PMDC. The Central Council meeting also took note of the indifferent attitude of Federal Health Authority, which has failed to manage the destructive and unconstitutional activity of a vested interest group.

The other resolutions passed include the Health Policy, PPHI, disaffiliation of five medical colleges from Karachi University, deteriorating standards of medical education in the country and Anti-PMA activities of certain non-member doctors.