NICH introduces phone app for pediatric endocrinology registry

KARACHI: The National Institute of Child Health in collaboration with the Sindh Health Department has decided to launch a smart-phone based application for the registry of pediatric endocrinology, i.e. pediatric hormonal disorders for patients in the Sindh province.

The Executive Director expressed these views, National Institute of Child Health, Prof Jamal Raza during the inaugural ceremony of the 1^st International Symposium on Pediatric Endocrinology & Diabetes held at a local hotel of Karachi. The two-day event was organized by the Society of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes Pakistan.

Prof Jamal Raza said that there was no national and provincial level data registry of pediatric hormonal disorders as there was no quality data available about pediatric diseases in Pakistan and the collection of data was considered a tough job.

He informed that a smart-phone application had been developed for the registration of pediatric hormonal disorders which provide a comprehensive clinical guideline, emergency guideline, medication details, information about doctors, as well as a disease management guideline for the patient’s family. He said that the family members of the patient could easily register their patients in the mobile phone-based app and this technology will provide the complete data of children affected by pediatric hormonal disorders.

Prof Jamal Raza said that the NICH is also introducing a thyroid hormone testing facility for the children with hormonal disorders and this facility would be extended across the Sindh province in cooperation with the Sindh Health Department. He said that the test would be performed free of cost and the screening of newborn babies would be effectively carried out using this facility.

He further stated that the aim of organizing the symposium is to address pediatric endocrinology which deals with endocrine-related conditions in children including growth disorders, early or delayed puberty, ovarian and testicular dysfunction, diabetes, hypoglycemia, obesity, etc.

President, Pakistan Pediatric Association, Prof Dr Gohar Rahem, appreciated the NICH and the Sindh Government for introducing innovative smart-phone based applications for the registry of pediatric hormonal disorders.

National as well as international speakers from Australia, UAE, and Dubai, who are experts in their fields, spoke on various topics related to growth, diabetes, and other hormones in children.