Date:05/05/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/05/05/stories/2005050513940400.htm

New Delhi

Pakistani surgeons on `mission advancement'

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

The team would familiarise themselves with the state-of-the-art laparoscopic keyhole surgery

NEW DELHI: A team of top surgeons from Karachi's Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre is here in the Capital to get a first-hand experience of the advancements made in the field of modern surgery.

The four-member team, which arrived here on Monday on a week- long study tour, is at present visiting the Department of Minimal Access Surgery at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, where they would familiarise themselves with the state-of-the-art laparoscopic keyhole surgery procedure which is not available back home in Pakistan.

The team will also interact with surgeons from other city hospitals including Indraprastha Apollo Hospital and Bhatia Global Hospital, where they would get to watch the laparoscopic keyhole being performed.

The team comprises the Head of Department, Surgery, Mumtaz Maher, and consultant surgeons, Mohammed Asif Qureshi, Ishaq Soomro and Kaleem Khalilullah. They are here on a `purely academic pursuit'.

"Previously the iron curtain prevented any kind of interaction. Now we are here to get first hand information and training in the advancement in the area of surgery. The only other time that we doctors got to meet and talk about this new technology- driven medical care sector was when we met at an international conference. India offers our doctors the option of spending less and learning a new technology and there is the added advantage of travelling to a country that has the same culture and more importantly same medical problems. Indian doctors are helping us keep ourselves updated on all the new advancements that are being made,'' said Dr. Maher.

Talks are also on to make this programme a long term one and with a Pakistani non- government organisation now coming forward to facilitate the stay expenses of doctors coming to the country for training, things could well be working out for a sustained long term programme.

Work aside, the one vision they take back home is that of the breathtaking Taj Mahal in Agra. "We made sure we came with a travel visa this time round. Last time when we came to India in February, we took back the dream of seeing the Taj,'' said one of the visiting doctors.