Khawaja Safdar Medical College Sialkot immediately needs a new teaching hospital

 To meet ever increasing needs of teaching, training, patient care

Khawaja Safdar Medical College Sialkot
immediately needs a new teaching hospital

SIALKOT: Political instability in the country has affected the growth and development in many sectors, health sector being no exception. Most of the newly established medical and dental colleges, medical universities in the public sector are facing numerous problems, Kh. Safdar Medical College in Sialkot established in 2008 is just one of them. Established by the PML (N) Government, this institution is named after a veteran Muslim League leader late Kh. Safdar. As was the case with many other newly established medical colleges the local District Headquarters Hospital (Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital) was affiliated with it as one of the teaching hospital where facilities have also been expanded over the years but still it leaves much to be desired. In order to ensure proper teaching and training facilities, a new teaching hospital affiliated with the medical college is desperately needed.

Prof. Akbar Chaudhry presenting a copy of the Second Edition of Book on Scientific Writing: A Guide
to the Art of Medical Writing and Scientific Publishing edited by Shaukat Ali Jawaid and Masood
Jawaid to Prof. Abdul Sattar Principal Khawaja Safdar Medical College on July 20th 2022.
Also seen in the picture are Mr. Shaukat Ali Jawaid and Dr. Abeer Anjum

Currently it has two affiliated teaching hospitals i.e. the four hundred bed Allama Iqbal Memorial Hospital and two hundred forty bed Sardar Begum Memorial Hospital. Earlier the government had decided to build a two hundred fifty bed new Women & Children Hospital but with the change of government this project could not see the light of the day. Then when the PTI Government started the MTI scheme, it was planned to build a new teaching hospital on public and private partnership but under the present circumstances, it is difficult to imagine what is going to happen with this project as well as the new government has abolished the MTI scheme. Under the new political developments taking place in the country there is lot of uncertainty and it is difficult to imagine the future set up. Whosoever forms the government, the political turmoil will continue which is certainly not good for the country.

As regards the teaching faculty, most of the basic sciences departments have adequate staff but on the clinical side, there are only about half a dozen permanent professors. Most of the other departments are staffed by faculty members whose services were acquired through MTI scheme or were appointed on contract basis. After the abolition of MTI scheme what is going to be the fate of those appointed through this scheme is also uncertain. It is said that perhaps most of them may be appointed on contract basis.

Photographed during a visit to Khawaja Safdar Medical College on July 20th from (L to R) are
Dr. Abeer Anjum Head of the Dept. of Medical Education at KSMC, Mr.Shaukat Ali Jawaid
Chief Editor Pulse International, Prof. Abdul Sattar and Prof.M. Akbar Chaudhry.

When the college was established its Vision was to train healthcare professionals with conviction, excellence and professionalism. It had the Mission of educating doctors inculcating in them the skills to provide healthcare with dignity and respect maintaining highest Internaitonal standards and stimulating innovation through research. One of the former Principals of the college Prof. Zafar Chaudhry who is currently Vice Chancellor of Faisalabad Medical University during his tenure had undertaken lot of development work. Most of the lecture halls and departments were named after eminent medical teachers just to pay them respect in recognition of their contributions to medical education. Details of Heads of this Institutions are given in the accompanying Table.

Apart from training medical graduates, there is a paramedical school which provides training facilities for Dispensers, technicians in Radiology, laboratory technicians besides sanitary supervisors. The Nursing School offers BS Nursing; two years course in general nursing as well as two years course in Midwifery. For postgraduate training the teaching hospital is recognized by the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Pakistan for FCPS in General Medicine, General Surgery, Pediatrics, Radiology, Ophthalmology, Cardiology, Plastic Surgery, Orthopedics, Neurosurgery and Ophthalmology. About fifteen medical graduates of the college have so far earned their Fellowship from the CPSP. It is also recognized for MD and MS in most of the above specialties as well.

Talking to Pulse International Prof. Abdul Sattar who has recently been appointed as Principal of the college said that on the basic side the Departments of Anatomy, Biochemistry, Community Medicine, Physiology, Pharmacology, Pathology and Forensic Medicine are well staffed. The Clinical Departments include Anesthesia, Behavioral Sciences, Cardiology, Dermatology, ENT, Endocrinology, Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Oncology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Pediatrics, Pediatric Surgery, Plastic Surgery, Pulmonology, Radiology and Urology. The college also has a Department of Medical Education with a component of Research. The institution has also constituted an Ethics Committee to approve research proposals. On the whole the college and its affiliated hospitals are reasonably well staffed and well equipped but needs a new teaching hospital to fulfill the ever increasing need of teaching, training and patient care.