Experts warn of more fatalities from treatable common surgical conditions

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

While the need for surgical care has been rapidly increasing in Pakistan, the capacity of the healthcare system has not expanded at the same pace to cater these needs. COVID-19 has widened the gap further with financial implications on healthcare system, education and research. 

It means, more people could die from treatable common surgical conditions, the experts warned while speaking at the inaugural session of the 6th AKU Annual Surgical Conference, Surgical Education and Training: Developing Standards. 

The College of Physicians and Surgeons, Pakistan, is the main certifying institution for surgeons, while public and private teaching hospitals bear the burden of responsibility for surgical education and training.

“Long-term and short-term commitments are needed by the government bodies as well as private sector to address the shortage of trained surgical specialists, non-uniform presence of trained surgeons in urban and rural areas and absence of a centralised structured training body,” Hammad Ather, Professor of Surgery at Aga Khan University and the chair of the event organising committee, observed. 

“The need of the hour is to make surgical education and training curriculum compatible with national needs and global trends and develop cost-effective systems to produce an adequate number of skilled surgeons,” he added. 

Research from the conference was published in a special supplement of the Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA). A study published in the supplement showed that a large proportion of surgical trainees in Pakistan experiences harassment, most frequently verbal and mental, with most cases passing unreported to the administration. Although overall harassment is similarly prevalent among male and female trainees, women are at a greater risk of sexual harassment. 

Additionally, many surgical trainees also face burnout and depression, which may be associated with certain forms of harassment, such as bullying. The researchers involved in the study were of the opinion that there is an overwhelming need for trainee surgeon support groups and other policies and interventions targeted at improving the workplace environment for surgical trainees in the country.

Julie A. Freischlag, AKU Trustee and Executive Vice President, Health Affairs and Dean, School of Medicine, Wake Forest University explained that the bravery is the quality or state of being brave, resolute in facing odds and able to meet danger or endure pain or hardship without giving in to fear. 

“During this pandemic, who you’re and wherever you’re, you need to speak up. You need to say that you’re not comfortable. You need to say something that perhaps isn’t popular, but that’s the only way you’re going to be able to make a change. When you’re brave, you empower others around you to be brave too. Be brave!” she stressed. 

“The global crisis has led to a few constructive adaptations in healthcare systems, including the development of tele-clinics, virtual academic sessions and conferences, increased usage of simulation and well-being of healthcare providers,” Adil Haider, Dean of AKU’s Medical College in Pakista, stated.