KMU to teach Islamic Studies course
PHOTO: REUTERS
Professor Dr Ziaul Haq, Vice-Chancellor of Khyber Medical University (KMU), announced that a modern modular curriculum has been introduced in medical colleges. Additionally, a new syllabus of Islamic Studies has been implemented in all undergraduate medical, dental, nursing, physiotherapy, and allied health sciences institutes.
Dr Haq emphasized that the new Islamic Studies curriculum will not only raise awareness about the fundamental beliefs and practices of Islam among young doctors and healthcare workers but also help inculcate basic human ethics in them.
He made these remarks while speaking as the chief guest at the introductory ceremony of the new undergraduate-level curriculum in Islamic Studies.
Professor Dr Ziaul Haq said that after harmonizing the medical curriculum with modern-day requirements, KMU has introduced the new curriculum in undergraduate medical, dental colleges, nursing, physiotherapy, and allied health sciences institute to train the young doctors and healthcare workers of the province.
He said it is important for medical professionals to possess not only strong technical skills but also strong moral and ethical values. Medical professionals are entrusted with the lives and well-being of their patients, and it is essential that they approach their work with compassion, sincerity, and a commitment to ethical principles.
The integration of Islamic Studies into the medical education curriculum can be a valuable way to instil these values in medical and allied health students. The teachings of Islam emphasize the importance of compassion, kindness, and ethical behavior, and incorporating these principles into medical education can help to shape the all-round character of future medical professionals.
Professor Zia said that the reforms introduced in the Islamiat curriculum have been made in light of the guidelines of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council, keeping in view the present-day requirements.
It is worth mentioning here that the old syllabus of Islamiat was suitable to some extent for general graduation classes, but that syllabus did not include anything special regarding medical ethics.
Therefore, KMU decided to introduce a new curriculum by including medical ethics as a subject in the curriculum, which not only contains the basic teachings of the Quran and Sunnah but also includes medical principles and regulations, the importance of treatment in Islam, rights, and duties of a physician.
This new syllabus consists of ten chapters in which references to Quran and Hadiths are also given along with each topic.
On this occasion, the Convener of the Islamiat Curriculum Committee and former vice-chancellor Professor Dr Hafizullah, members of the committee Professor Dr Hafiz Abdul Ghafoor, Qari Roohullah Madani, Professor Dr Rashid Ahmed, Dr Braikhna Jameel, Professor Dr Muhammad Zahid, Dr Syed Hamid Habib, Dr Abdul Manan, staffer Samina, and Director Academic Muhammad Islam were also present.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 2nd, 2023.