TEVTA all set to start short courses for paramedics

Two courses will be initially taught at SZABMU that would commence in April

LAHORE: In a bid to deal with the shortage of paramedic staff, the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) has joined hands with Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University (SZABMU) and Women Chamber of Commerce and Industry (WCCI). All three organisations will manage short courses to train and produce more paramedic staff for public and private sector hospitals of Punjab.

In this regard, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was inked at a local hotel by TEVTA, SZABMU, WCCI and German organisation GIZ. TEVTA Chairperson Irfan Qaiser Sheikh, SZABMU Vice-Chancellor Dr Javed Akram and other officials were present.

While speaking to The Express Tribune, Irfan Qaiser Sheikh said that public and private hospitals across Punjab need paramedics produced by medical colleges.

“There is no short course which can provide immediate job opportunities to youth,” he said. The chairman added TEVTA decided to start the course to cope with the shortage of paramedics and provide the youth an immediate job opportunity in the medical sector.

The TEVTA chairperson highlighted the details of courses and said that two types of programmes will be started with SZABMU for paramedics. These included courses for dispenser/pharmaceutical assistant and certified assistant nurse. The said courses will be started in April this year, he maintained.

“There is a huge demand for paramedical and nursing staff in public and private hospitals. Now the organisations have joined hands to meet the employment challenges in health sector,” Qaiser Sheikh pointed out.

He said that SZABMU will provide curriculum and conduct examinations to award certificates, while theory classes will be conducted in TEVTA institutions across Punjab.

He said the GIZ will establish state-of-the-art labs in TEVTA institutions for the courses, whereas clinical and practical classes will be arranged at private hospitals in collaboration with WCCI. “Through this partnership, we will be able to provide market need-based training as SZABMU has expertise in this specific field.”

Irfan Sheikh said it was the desire of the Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif to provide medical training to the youth at low fee. “There are several institutions offering such courses, but they are charging heavy amounts which bar common man from getting admission in these courses.”

He said the youth belonging to lower income groups will be able to get training through this partnership.

Irfan Qaiser Sheikh explained that TEVTA and WCCI will collaborate in enhancing awareness and employability of women, who will complete training at TEVTA. He said WCCI will also bridge the gap between local industries and the vocational authority.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 10^th, 2018.