Healing hands: LUMHS sends off 745 graduates into the field of medicine

Health secretary offers jobs to those who picked up the most medals.

HYDERABAD:

The Liaquat University of Medical and Health Sciences (LUMHS) awarded academic degrees and diplomas to 754 graduates at the university’s 12th annual convocation at the Jamshoro campus on Saturday.

The graduates included one PhD scholar, 352 MBBS, 78 BDS, 89 postgraduate, 200 BSc Nursing, 26 physiotherapy and eight diploma holders in bio medical technology.

“LUMHS is the leading university in the public sector, producing the highest number of doctors,” observed College of Physicians and Surgeons President Prof Zafrullah Chaudhry. He praised the online diploma programme offered by the university and the research activities on epidemics in Sindh.

LUMHS has two university hospitals in Jamshoro and Hyderabad. Prof Chaudhry noted that these hospitals provided free healthcare facilities to the people who cannot afford private medical care.

Health Secretary Iqbal Hussain Durrani offered government jobs to Mahrukh Shah and Hifza Shaikh, the top graduates who won 12 and 11 gold medals, respectively, in the MBBS and BDS programs. According to Durrani, the department is introducing a bill to form the Sindh Healthcare Commission with the aim to improve health services for people. The commission, he added, will receive complaints against doctors, hospital administration and quacks and will ensure prompt action.

Prof Ghulam Qadir Qazi, vice-chancellor Isra University, announced an award of Rs50,000 for each of the two best graduate of MBBS and BDS.

LUMHS Vice-Chancellor Dr Noshad Shaikh reminded the students of the responsibilities which lay on their shoulders. “There are people, especially in the rural areas, who are suffering due to substandard healthcare. They need skilled doctors who provide them quality health services,” he said, adding that LUMHS will establish diagnostic labs in each district of the province to provide diagnostic services and also as a means for an additional income for the varsity.

At the convocation, the top 10 students in both the MBBS and BDS programs were awarded medals and certificates.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 2^nd, 2014.