A meeting of Heads of Surgical Association of SAARC and ASEAN Countries was held at 11.30am on 17th Dec., 2016, at Seminar Hall of Guest House of Karnataka Open Universit, ASICON venue Mysuru.
The following members attended the meeting.
| 1 | Dr. Satish K. Shukla | Past President, ASI, India |
| 2 | Prof. Naren Pinto | Representing Royal College of Surgeon, Srilanka |
| 3 | Prof. Sompal Permpongkosal | Representing Royal College of Surgeon, Thailand |
Due to uncertain conditions, involving legal cases going on in different courts, majority members had apprehension of this meeting, resulted in only two delegates from Srilanka and Thailand.
Three of us had a Table meeting exchanging views on main theme of this meeting –
“Teaching and learning among ASEAN and SAARC Countries.”
Dr. Shukla in brief gave the information regarding Medical Education- undergraduate and Post Graduate in the Country and present status of number of graduates (54000) and Post Graduates (6000) coming out of the Medical Colleges in India. He informed about different National Medical Institutions run by Government or Private Organisations conducting High Skill Courses and developed centres of different specialities, imparting teaching and practical training as good as any where in the world. Association of Surgeons of India (ASI) has identified 10 such centres for training for SAARC / ASEAN Countries Surgeon on short and long-term basis in subjects like Trauma, Minimal Invasive Surgery, Robotic Surgery, Liver Transplantation, Pancreatic Surgery, Gastro Intestinal/ G.B. Surgery, Lower GI procedures, Oral Cancer / Thyroid, Soft/Hard tissue cancers and Advance Urology. He requested the members to give the message to their Head of Surgical Association and give the names of highly developed centers of speciality where, Asian countries Surgeons can get training on mutual and collaborative basis.
We all have similar problems and solutions. We all can come together on one platform to train our Surgeons and equip them to give world-class services to our own people, with much less cost involved.
Dr. Shukla referred to such resolution taken at Hyderabad in December 2014 where 9 countries participated, and at Pattaya where 12 member countries participated but no progress since then. Dr. Pinto and Dr. Sompal agreed to convey this to their National – Royal Colleges of Surgeons.
Dr. Pinto gave in brief the existing Medical Services giving free care to the people of Srilanka and having four good centers with high tech procedures undergoing specially in Trauma.
Dr. Sompal Permpongkosal briefed the medical services taking care of the people in general and different advance procedures undertaken by University Hospital. SIRIAJ Hospital, MAHIDOL University Bangkok, a 3000 bedded Hospital with all superspecialities, including Head/ Neck Cancer, Thyroid, Urology, Gastro-Intestinal/ Hepatic/ Pancreatic procedures and Minimal Invasive Surgery, Surgeons from different part of ASIA and Other countries come for training.
RAMATHIBODI – Hospital – Bangkok 1400 bedded Hospital doing all advance subspecialities surgical procedures including advance Robotic Surgery.
CHULALONGKORN University Hospital – Bangkok. An advance Cardio Vascular and Thoracic Surgery center.
CHIANGMAI University Hospital at CHIANGMAI is having specialised department in GI, Urology, Vascular and Cardio Thoracic specialities giving training to local as well foreign Surgeons. He appreciated such collaborative teaching programme, which will help Surgeons of Asian Countries to develop their own resources for well-collaborated and well-planned study programme. This will be much cheaper and comfortable to Asian Surgeons in learning and serving their own people.
Dr. Shukla in brief informed about the Pattaya declaration of 2014 on similar topic, headed by Dr. Prof. V. Bhudhisawasadi, President, RCST (2014), learning and teaching among Asian Countries approved by 12 countries.
Dr. Shukla also gave information above Lancet Commission report of 26th April, 2015, on “Universal Access to Safe Surgery” which has been signed by most of the countries in ASIA and Europe. The resolution passed is to give Safe Surgery and anesthesia with better results, and should be implemented in all countries for safety of the people.
Meeting ended with Vote of Thanks.
