KARACHI - A clarion call was made at the inaugural session of the annual conference of pathologists here to make the medical treatment and related investigations affordable in the greater interest of public at large.

The call came at the 40th annual conference of Pakistan Association of Pathologists (PAP) which began at SIUT (Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation) on Thursday.

The three-day conference is attended by over 70 practicing pathologists from within the country and abroad. Chairman of the conference organising committee Professor Mirza Naqi Zafar welcomed the guests and highlighted the theme of the conference “70 years of Pathology in Pakistan”.

The Association started in 1976 with 18 pathologists and today the number stand beyond 20,000 in the country.

Professor Adib Rizvi who is a founder Director of the Institute gave the keynote address dedicated to late Prof Javed Kazi. He highlighted the prevailing disparity that is experienced in every segment of developing world. He said this disparity is causing hardship to its population and restricting his access to avail basic amenities of life including health. Discussing his own philosophy that “health is a birth right of every individual” he declared that the root cause of prevailing disparity is massive economic exploitation.

Prof Rizvi pointed out disparity of resources has increased as 80 per cent of the global population comprising developing world is suffering because all the resources are owned by a small group of 20 per cent developed world.

He called upon the pathologists’ community to carry out a crusade in their medical research based on solid foundation to meet the challenges of future and extend the cover of meaningful medical care. He gave a detailed presentation on the activities of SIUT as an institution of special medical care for last 45 years.  Dr Rizwan Naeem, Professor of Molecular Pathology at Albert Einstien College of Medicine New York gave the Razi lecture on his paper as a part of Muslim scientist Al Razi spoke on molecular and genetic screening especially for cancer patients. He said President of Pakistan Association of Pathologist Dr. Farida Naseer who declared conference open said the field of pathology is surging ahead in the world of medical sciences.

Dr Mohammad Mubarak chairman scientific committee introduced Dr Rizwan Naeem. Dr Sabiha Anis and Dr Khawar Abbas also spoke at the inaugural session. The working sessions and workshops of the conference will discuss various branches of pathology including microbiology, immunology, histopathology, infectious diseases, transplantation, hematology and genetics.