This month I am going to update you all regarding the emergency medicine residency program. Like any new program it is going through the growing pains and setbacks which most are expected to be resolved over time and with efforts from all the faculty members, colleagues, trainees and other faculties as it is a collective effort. It is good to inform you all regarding the residency.
Since 2010 there are two centers who offer the residency training, Shifa International Hospital and Agha Khan in Karachi. There are few other centers that are thinking about starting the residency training and we expect them to be on board in due time. There is still not enough enthusiasm in general to make people realize that doing this work is beneficial for the country as well as the health care system and the individual physicians. Definitely an active organization helps and we do have an organization called SEPP (society of emergency physicians Pakistan) but due to enormity of the task of safely lifting the program up to ground the society is at the back burner.
As far as the training program goes we at Shifa have about eight trainees in our program. Certainly the interest has developed among the young graduates and we expect it to keep growing. Agha khan has similar story. They have a better or mature program as that started back at 2005 when it was not even recognized program by CPSP. Now coming on board for the FCPS part II training they have about ten or more residents enrolled in the Program. We have one supervisor at Shifa and another supervisor waiting to get approval of the CPSP. Agha Khan has about three supervisors.
It seems like a slow start but in the right direction. The curriculum committee meets periodically to improve the curriculum and soon we will be holding our IMM Exam. CPSP also has been sending people to Ireland for 2 years training and work, who will be entering in the emergency medicine pool soon and will give the required boost and lift to this program.
We know that the demand outside the country is huge but we forget the requirement in our own country is also huge. All our hospitals have emergency rooms and will eventually require trained individual to run the emergency department. Once the number of trained individuals achieves a critical mass the next logical step would be to start demanding trained emergency physician to be appointed to the post s in emergency rooms. All these first time appointees will be running the emergency departments and will be the key to success of the faculty.
Since the duration of the program has been changed to five years by unanimous decision, it gives ample time to learn and come out as mature physicians. This also gives them a chance to be in different roles and the last year would usually be spent working in emergency department as senior person and would serve as the process to groom them.
I have a strong feeling that these trainees when come out of the program will serve our nation and the people and make us all proud. May Allah help us all out in developing this field for the sake of service for people and for Pakistan.
I could be reached at erdoc@shifa.com.pk