SAARC Countries To Collaborate In The Field Of Health Care

The 70th Annual conference of the Association of Surgeons of India ASICON 2010, held recently in New Delhi was one of the largest medical conferences of surgeons in the world. Over 7000 national and international delegates from India, England, Scotland, USA, Egypt and SAARC nations attended the conference. Read more

Panel discussions on surgical education, live telecasts of basic and advanced surgical procedures, and sessions on innovations in surgery were some interesting highlights of ASICON 2010. Critical evaluations, discussions and debates on surgery and surgical practices took place in a very vibrant atmosphere, leading to constructive and positive outcomes from this interactive and informative meet.

The panel discussion on “Reforms in Surgical Education, Training and Practice for 21st Century India” was indeed an intense affair, with valuable inputs and suggestions from stalwarts in the medical fraternity. According to Dr.NK Pandey, President, Association of Surgeons of India, “ Some very interesting topics in medicine and surgery such as robotic cancer surgery, reconstructive surgery, management of brain tumours, laparoscopic procedures, pancreas transplantation, SILS (Single Incision laparoscopic surgery), NOTES (Natural Orifice Transluminal  Endoscopic Surgery),and many more such innovations in surgery were discussed through lectures, orations, and presentation of case studies, by various stalwarts in the world of medicine from India and across the globe.”

 Another very interesting session was” Innovations in Surgery” (or practice of what is colloquially called Jugaad in Hindi), where different innovations for modifying surgical instruments were discussed. Surgeons have modified surgical instruments to lower the cost of surgeries. Dr.R.K Karwasra, Head of Surgery & Surgical Oncology, PGIMS, Rohtak, explained close suction technique for NGA (Naso Gastric Aspiration). In this technique the harmful secretions from the stomach are removed by aspirating it through the nasal orifice, with the help of a nasogastric tube. This method does not require precious nursing time, and is more hassle –free and convenient to use.

The SAARC symposium, aptly titled Back to Basics, saw an active participation of the medical fraternity from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal & Bhutan. It helped in ushering a deeper understanding of basic issues in surgical education, surgical training and surgical services daunting SAARC countries. It also opened the doors for more collaborative opportunities in healthcare between India and other SAARC nations. Dr.Narender Pinto of Sri Lanka hoped that such exchanges between India and other SAARC countries in the field of medical education and sharing of expertise in surgical practices among the surgeon fraternity would continue in the years to come.

 The climate of debate/discussion highlighting emerging trends in surgery, and live telecasts of basic/ advanced surgical techniques at the conference proved to be a tremendous experience even for seasoned surgeons.  The exchange of ideas at the conference is bound to enhance surgical acumen among doctors, and will go a long way in advancing the cause of surgery.

Shobha Shukla - CNS 


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