Row over robotic surgery ends

Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) Executive Director Professor Dr Shahid Rasool said that his differences over robotic surgery with the Caretaker Health Minister Dr Saad Khalid Niaz have ended.

Currently, unnecessary and minor robotic surgeries have been stopped and the budget will be spent on other issues of the hospital, Dr Rasool said. "We are signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplant (SIUT), through which their surgeons will also perform robotic surgeries on our patients," he said.

He was addressing an awareness seminar on Congo-Crimean Haemorrhagic Fever at JPMC.

Consultant of Emergency Dr Irfan Siddiqui said that Congo fever is a viral disease that occurs mostly in Africa. Congo virus is transmitted to humans primarily through tick bites or through contact with the blood or remains of infected animals during and immediately after slaughter.

Severe disease has been developed in one out of eight people. He said that, avoid tick-infested areas, people working with livestock should wear long sleeves and light-coloured clothing so that ticks can be seen on clothing and use chemical repellents on shoes and clothing.

Executive Director Professor Shahid Rasool said in his address to the ceremony that we are building a new accident emergency department with 300 beds. He lauded the services of Dr Nausheen and Dr Irfan for the improvement they have made in the accident department.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 21^st, 2023.