WORKSHOP ON DIAGNOSTIC AND THERAPEUTIC ASPECTS OF HAEMOPHILIA AND RARE BLEEDING DISORDER
A workshop on “Diagnostic and Therapeutic Aspects of Haemophilia and Rare Bleeding Disorders” was recently conducted in Lahore on 26th -27th August, 2016. It was a training platform for haemotologists and other consultants’ pathologists working in different districts of central Punjab and was convened under the auspices of the recently formed Punjab Taskforce on Haemophilia and Bleeding Disorders, Pakistan Society of Haematology and University of Health Sciences, Lahore. The Chief organizer of the event was Prof. Dr. Nisar Ahmed and Department of Haematology and Transfusion Medicine Division, The Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore.
The inauguration ceremony started with recitation from the Holy Quran. The participants were welcomed by Prof. Dr. Masood Sadiq, Dean, The Children’s Hospital and Institute of Child Health, Lahore. The gathering was addressed by Prof. Dr. Abdul Hayee, who had kindly consented to be Chief Patron for the occasion. This was followed by a talk by President PSH Maj. Gen. Muhammad Ayub, who shared his valuable experiences and suggestions for improving the quality care for patients with bleeding disorders. At the end of the inauguration, Mr. Sajid Chohan, Special Secretary Health, Government of Punjab and Mr. Khawaja Salman Rafiq, Advisor to Chief Minister Punjab on Health, presented the Punjab Government view point and efforts in dealing with difficulties faced by Haemophilia and Bleeding Disease Patients.
The inauguration was followed by 2-days of inter active lectures by senior Hematologists from across Pakistan. Speaker included Maj. Gen. Muhammad Ayub, Prof. Dr. Mona Aziz, Dr. Samina Amanat, Dr. Tariq Masood, Dr. Nadeem Ikram, Dr. Munira Burhany, Dr. Saima Farhan, Dr. Nazish Saqlain and Prof. Dr. Nisar Ahmed. The participants were also assessed both prior to the workshop and at the end of the proceedings. In addiction there was a segment on clinical data interpretation where participants were actively involved in answering and discussing basic scenarios related to bleeding disorders.
The workshop ended with proposals formulated by senior haematologists to encourage the Punjab Government in supplying free of cost factor concentrates in the emergency departments of various of tertiary care hospitals for diagnosed bleeding disease patients. In addition the government was requested to provide technical expertise and upgrade diagnostic facilities for these patients at tertiary care level. Senior haematologists were also invited to formulate national guidelines regarding bleeding disorders to facilitate all medical practitioners in diagnosing and treating these patients.
