Free Orthopaedic Clinic to be established by the POA for deserving patients

Karachi: Pakistan Orthopaedic Association (POA) has announced on Tuesday that it will start the first ever free orthopaedic clinic to provide consultation free of cost to the needy patients ensuring respect and dignity.

This was announced by President POA, Prof Dr Muhammad Parwez Anjum while addressing a press conference held at the Pakistan Medical Association House. General Secretary Dr Masood Umer and Dr Naeem Ul Haq were also present on this occasion  

Prof Anjum said POA free Orthopaedic Clinic would be established in Wazir Trauma Centre located near Numaish in front of Quaid’s Mausoleum, where assistant professors and senior orthopaedic surgeons (including females) will be available daily from 1-4 pm with the exception of Fridays and Sundays. This would help patients suffering from orthopaedic diseases to acquire reliable, senior consultation at early stages saving both, their money and time, and preventing complications of the disease. The clinic would formerly start functioning from 18th November 2014.

He said two female surgeons would also be available at clinic to provide consultation to women. He stated that checkups would be done only by appointment and patients can contact the POA office located in PMA House, or call on 021-32294825, 0311-1297150 for appointments during office hours.

He said consultation would be provided for all orthopaedic problems including but not limited to fractures, arthritis, backache, joints pain, osteoporosis etc. He said that the aim of inaugurating the clinic was to offer free consultation to deserving patients with dignity. The clinic has the capacity to cater to the needs of 40 to 50 patients daily, he added.

He explained that the primary purpose of establishing the clinic was to work for the welfare of poor patients and pay back to the community as previously, POA was only catering to the interests of orthopaedic surgeons in the country. "We have started free camps for the very first time, and have also launched campaigns to raise awareness about orthopaedic diseases, their prevention, early diagnosis and treatment," he mentioned.
Prof Parwez said majority of the patients do not have enough money to book a consultation appointment with a senior surgeon. They rarely see senior surgeons at public sector hospitals due to the burden of patients. "In any case, delayed care means late diagnosis of the disease resulting in complications which can then lead to morbidity and mortality," he added.