LAHORE: Expressing optimism about the future of medical journalism in Pakistan, Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique has highlighting the importance of promoting quality medical research to enhance healthcare standards.
"Medical journalism plays a significant role in health policy-making, but Pakistani medical journals face challenges related to research quality," the minister said during the inaugural session of the 6th National Conference of the Pakistan Association of Medical Editors, held at the University of Health Sciences (UHS).
He underscored the need for transparency in published research to boost the credibility of journals on an international level.
The event was attended by notable figures, including UHS Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ahsan Waheed Rathore, Fatima Jinnah Medical University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Khalid Masood Gondal, King Edward Medical University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Mahmood Ayaz, UHS Pro-Vice-Chancellor and conference organizing committee chairperson Prof. Nadia Naseem, WHO representative Dr. Naveed Asghar, and PAME President Prof. S.H. Waqar.
On the occasion, lifetime achievement awards were presented to Prof. Muhammad Aslam, Prof. Fatima Jawad, and Shaukat Ali Jawaid in recognition of their significant contributions to medical editing.
During the conference, UHS VC Prof. Ahsan Waheed Rathore announced the establishment of a dedicated department for medical journalism at the university, along with the integration of medical research writing into postgraduate courses.
He said the 176 institutions affiliated with UHS have the capacity to publish hundreds of research papers annually.
Prof. Khalid Masood Gondal said quality is a continuous process, stating that while artificial intelligence cannot replace doctors, future success will belong to those who can effectively utilise this technology.
King Edward Medical University VC Prof. Mahmood Ayaz stressed that the benefits of medical research should reach the public, asserting that merely publishing research papers is not enough; data accuracy and utility are also critical.