LAHORE - Medical institutions in the province have formed ‘Council for Collaboration in Medical Education’ for collaboration and cooperation in enhancing role of health institutions.
The body was formed at a meeting of heads of medical education departments of public and private sector medical colleges of the Punjab held at the University of Health Sciences (UHS) on Tuesday.
UHS Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Junaid S Khan chaired the meeting. The objective was to develop a road map for better co-ordination amongst all institutions and colleges affiliated with UHS.
The participants applauded the initiative taken by the university in setting up a meaningful, practical forum for medical education, coordinating activities and steering them in right direction through concerted effort.
It was decided that the role of the council would revolve around research, teaching, professional development and providing educational support in area of curriculum development and assessment.
A core-committee of CCME was set up with Dr Musarrat ul Hasnain of Punjab Medical College Faisalabad, as its president elect, Dr Munir Azhar from Quaid-e-Azam Medical College Bahawalpur, secretary, and Prof Sohail Khurshid Lodhi from Rashid Latif Medical College Lahore and Prof Syed Hassan Shoaib of Shalamar Medical College Lahore, as its members. UHS Pro-VC, Prof Junaid S Khan would act as the President CCME for one year.
The major responsibilities of the council will include designing and implementing teaching and learning strategies for continuous professional development of medical faculty, establishing research protocols in health professions education besides encouraging innovation in medical education and practice and revamping the current undergraduate and postgraduate curricula based on the best evidence medical education practices available, rooted to contextual needs and available resources. It was decided that special emphasis would be given to explore the current challenges faced by medical education. The council would plan and conduct national and international conferences and seminars on medical education besides launching a journal “The Collaborator”, from its platform.
During the meeting, three sub-committees were also set up on research, curriculum development and continuous professional development which would be headed by Dr Musarrat ul Hasnain, Prof Sohail Khurshid Lodhi and Prof Syed Hassan Shoaib respectively.
UHS Pro-VC said that central coordination with regards to medical education activities was the need of the hour.
“The CCME will be responsible for assessing national and international trends and making recommendations for curricular modification, promoting research and contributing to faculty development by conducting workshops and education retreats”, he added.