UHS awards certificates to summer elective participants
A total of 39 students from various institutions across Punjab were awarded certificates for completing 10-day intensive modules designed to provide hands-on experience and interdisciplinary learning beyond the confines of traditional curricula.
The program, now in its latest edition, featured electives across a diverse range of departments including Anatomy, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Biochemistry, Haematology, Human Genetics & Molecular Biology, Forensic Medicine, Allied Health Sciences, the Research & Development Centre, and the Professional Skills Development Centre.
Medi-Sum 2025 aimed to enhance students' clinical and professional competencies through laboratory-based learning, interactive workshops, expert mentorship, and exposure to research methodologies. The initiative, according to university spokesperson, was designed to nurture inquiry, critical thinking, and collaborative learning—skills deemed essential for emerging healthcare professionals.
Speaking at the ceremony, UHS vice-chancellor Prof Dr Ahsan Waheed Rathore reaffirmed the university's focus on student-centered learning. 'Real learning extends beyond textbooks,' he said, adding: 'Through programs like Medi-Sum, we aim to instill the values of curiosity, innovation, and teamwork among future health leaders.' He urged the participants to be the ambassadors of the university and spread the word.
Pro-vice-chancellor Prof Dr Nadia Naseem, in her remarks, highlighted the reciprocal value of such initiatives. 'These programs are not just educational for students, they're also a learning experience for us as educators,' she noted, expressing the university's commitment to expanding such academic engagements in future editions.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
09-08-2025
- Express Tribune
PMDC refutes MDCAT fee hike claim
The Pakistan Medical & Dental Council (PM&DC) has announced that the Medical & Dental Colleges Admission Test (MDCAT) 2025 will be held on October 5. In a statement issued on Saturday, PM&DC also dismissed rumours of an 80 per cent fee hike as "false and misleading", clarifying that only a nominal increase has been made to cover the operational costs of conducting the exam, including security and logistics. The council clarified that the fee has increased modestly and gradually over the years. In 2024, the fee was Rs8,000 and for 2025, it has been set at Rs9,000. The Rs1,000 increment represents a 12.5% rise, not 80% as incorrectly circulated on social media. Meanwhile, registration for the exam will be open from August 8 to August 25, with a late registration window available until September 1, 2025. The MDCAT 2025 will be conducted in English in a paper-based format, featuring 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) with no negative marking. The MDCAT exam will be conducted by universities nominated by federal and provincial authorities, not by PM&DC itself. However, PM&DC, as the regulator, has developed a uniform syllabus for the exam in consultation with all stakeholders, including federal and provincial authorities. The council said that it has also invested heavily in developing a question bank based on the common syllabus agreed upon by the provinces. The fee revision was made at the request of the examination-conducting universities, citing rising costs of paper printing, enhanced security protocols, logistical arrangements, payments for examiners, invigilators, administrative staff and ensuring adequate seating and facilities for candidates nationwide and at international venues. Moreover, the council said it has taken a balanced approach to keep the exam accessible to all candidates while maintaining quality and integrity in the testing process. The statement added that the council was committed to transparent, responsible and merit-based admissions, ensuring equal opportunities for all aspiring medical and dental students. The MDCAT will be conducted through the following universities: University of Health Sciences, Lahore (for Punjab); Sukkur IBA University, Sukkur (for Sindh); Khyber Medical University, Peshawar (for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa); Bolan University of Medical & Health Sciences, Quetta (for Balochistan); and Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Islamabad (for Islamabad Capital Territory, Azad Jammu & Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and for international candidates in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia). Candidates must carefully select one city/centre for the MDCAT and complete their application with all required information or the online system will reject it. The test will be a paper-based, multiple-choice exam conducted in English, consisting of 180 questions with no negative marking.
Business Recorder
02-08-2025
- Business Recorder
Project on nutrition-specific curricular reforms launched
LAHORE: To address the growing concern of malnutrition in Punjab, the University of Health Sciences (UHS), UNICEF Pakistan and the Government of Punjab have jointly launched a project focused on nutrition-specific curricular reforms and capacity building for healthcare professionals across the province. The initiative titled 'Nutrition-Specific Curricular Reforms and Capacity Development for Healthcare Professionals of Punjab,' aims to revise and harmonize undergraduate and postgraduate nutrition curricula offered by UHS-affiliated institutions. A formal agreement to this effect will be signed soon between UNICEF and Punjab government. Project duration is two and a half year. In this regard, a meeting of the core committee to outline the project's framework was held at UHS. It was chaired by vice-chancellor Prof Ahsan Waheed Rathore and attended by UNICEF Punjab's Nutrition Specialist Ms Najma Ayub, Pro-Vice Chancellor Prof Nadia Naseem, Head of UHS Medical Education Department Prof Sumaira Ehsan, Director International Linkages Dr. Midhat Salman and other senior faculty members. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Rathore emphasized the importance of the project. 'This collaboration is a milestone in addressing the critical issue of malnutrition. By equipping healthcare professionals with updated knowledge and practical skills, we can create a lasting impact on community health,' he remarked. The project seeks to make nutrition a mandatory component in undergraduate programs of medicine, dentistry, nursing, and allied health sciences. It also plans to incorporate Early Childhood Development (ECD) training and develop a cadre of master trainers with specialized knowledge in nutrition. As part of the project, a series of workshops, seminars, and practical training sessions will be held for the faculty of health institutions. These will cover key areas such as breastfeeding promotion, complementary feeding practices, emergency nutrition response, and community-level management of severe malnutrition. Prof Rathore outlined a comprehensive roadmap: the first step involves convening subject matter experts to assess existing curricula, identify gaps and areas for improvement, select appropriate content, and develop a robust curriculum framework. Following this, curriculum implementation workshops will be held in six major cities across Punjab, aimed at training 150 master trainers who will cascade nutrition specific instruction across UHS?affiliated institutions. Ms Najma Ayub underscored UNICEF's commitment to the cause, stating that the project represents a multi-sectoral approach to tackling malnutrition. Through education, training, and awareness, we aim to achieve sustainable improvements in public health', she added. Prof Rathore shared that the existing curricular structure had been presented and discussions will be held on aligning it with UNICEF's standards and international best practices. He said a comprehensive report would be submitted to UNICEF in September. The project is closely aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goal 2, which aims to end all forms of malnutrition by 2030. The UHS and UNICEF will jointly monitor implementation progress through regular reviews and third-party evaluations to ensure accountability and impact. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
24-07-2025
- Business Recorder
UHS integrates six life-saving skills into core curriculum for health
LAHORE: The University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore has become the first institution in Pakistan to formally integrate six essential life-saving skills into the core curriculum of all health-related undergraduate programmes. Starting this academic year, students of medical, dental, nursing, and allied health sciences will be required to undergo training in these skills, including CPR, before they are allowed to sit for their final professional examinations. The six courses now compulsory for all students are: Cardiac First Response / Basic Life Support (Adult & Paediatric), Immediate Care Cardiac / Advanced Life Support Cardiac, Immediate Care Trauma / Advanced Life Support Trauma, Emergency Triage Assessment and Treatment (ETAT), Emergency Neonatal Care / Neonatal Resuscitation, and Emergency Obstetrics and Neonatal Care (EMONC). According to UHS, as many as 25,000 students from around 200 affiliated colleges will be trained annually, enabling them to provide emergency aid during cardiac arrests, accidents, and deliveries, potentially saving lives even before professional help arrives. The launch ceremony of the faculty training workshops was held here on Wednesday. Leading paediatrician Prof Sajid Maqbool was the chief guest. Speakers included UHS vice-chancellor Prof Ahsan Waheed Rathore, University of Child Health Sciences vice-chancellor and President of the Pakistan Paediatric Association (PPA) Prof Masood Sadiq, UHS pro-vice-chancellor Prof Nadia Naseem and Director of Professional Skills Development Prof Sarah Ghafoor. International health partners, including WHO Deputy Representative in Pakistan Ellen Mpangananji Thom and UNICEF Pakistan Health Manager Dr Safina Abdullah, addressed the gathering virtually. Ellen Mpangananji Thom noted that Pakistan currently has the highest neonatal mortality rate in the world and called the UHS initiative an essential step towards reversing this trend. 'Every life matters. Standardized and structured training for healthcare providers is key,' she said. Dr Abdullah called the programme a 'reunion of heart and mind for a common cause to save lives', echoing the Quranic verse: 'Whoever saves one life, it is as if he saved all of humanity.' She said this curriculum reform, now formally adopted, deserves applause and is expected to create a ripple effect across the health sector. UNICEF Punjab's Health Team Lead, Dr Quratulain Ahmed, lauded the UHS for fulfilling a promise made two years ago to incorporate neonatal resuscitation into the academic syllabus. 'This is not the work of weeks but of decades. Thanks to these efforts, the neonatal mortality rate in Punjab has dropped from 41 to 38 per 1,000 live births,' she said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
