Category: Healthcare

AI can bring major changes to Pakistan’s health care system

“The healthcare industry in Pakistan is ready for some major changes, while Artificial Intelligence (AI) can bring significant changes in the health care system by simplifying the lives of patients, doctors, and hospital administrators.

The establishment of the Center for Artificial Intelligence in Health Sciences was a need of the time, and this center is being set up under Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), University of Karachi.”

Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Director of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, and COMSTECH Coordinator General expressed these views while speaking at the One-day Workshop on “Artificial Intelligence in Health Sciences” held on Monday jointly organized by Dr. Panjwani Center and Sindh Innovation Research and Education Network (SIREN).

The workshop was held in the building of L.E.J. National Science Information Center, University of Karachi. Dr. Reaz Udin, associate professor at PCMD, presented the welcome address, while Prof. Dr. Ashiq Anjum from the University of Leicester, UK, delivered the keynote. Among others who talked about the advanced applications of AI in the health care domain included Prof. Dr. Imran Nisar from the Aga Khan University, Prof. Omer Rana,  Dean of International School of Computer Science and Informatics, Cardiff University, UK, and Prof. Huiyu (Joe) Zhou, School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, University of Leicester, UK.

Prof. Choudhary said, “Artificial intelligence simplifies the lives of patients, doctors, and hospital administrators by performing tasks that are typically done by humans, but in less time and at a fraction of the cost.”

He said ICCBS took an important initiative to invest and train manpower in the cutting-edge discipline of artificial intelligence applications in health sciences.

This initiative is taken to modernize the current healthcare systems of the country, he said, adding that the main objective of this initiative is to acquire the indigenous capacity for the establishment of a state-of-the-art center for the capacity building and applications of AI in focused fields of health sciences, which will serve the country, and its people.  ICCBS has all infrastructure to initiate this proposed training center of AI in health and it has a history of the successful implementation of new research disciplines in the country, he said.  The proposed center of AI in health will produce a critical mass of trained people who can lead the AI applications across the country, and contribute to the Knowledge Economy of the country, he mentioned. “I am thankful to Prof. Dr. Ashiq Anjum who is providing his expertise and time with the utmost commitment to lead this project as an international expert in the subject,” he said, and also thanked other national and international experts who participated in the workshop. He hoped that this workshop activity would play a great role for the participants to identify new directions in the field of AI in Health Care. In the end, Prof. Dr. Farzana Shaheen distributed certificates among the workshop participants.

 

PCMD to hold a workshop on Artificial Intelligence in Health Sciences

A One-day Workshop on “Artificial Intelligence in Health Sciences” will be held on Monday (December 20) at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi.

Center for Artificial Intelligence in Health Sciences, working under the Dr. Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), is organizing the workshop in association with Sindh Innovation Research and Education Network (SIREN).

The ICCBS Spokesman said that the workshop will be held in the building of L.E.J. National Science Information Center, University of Karachi, at 09:00 AM.

Prof. Dr. M. Iqbal Choudhary, Director of the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, and COMSTECH Coordinator General will also address the science gathering, the spokesman said, adding that Prof. Ashiq Anjum from University of Leicester, UK, will be the keynote speaker on the occasion. He said that the experts from national and international institutions will deliver their talks in the workshop. It is pertinent to mention here that this workshop is the first of its kind in the country that will open the avenues of new research areas of cutting-edge technology of artificial intelligence in health sciences.

TriFit announces opening of two world class fitness clubs

TriFit Limited announces the opening of two state of the art fitness clubs in Lucky One Mall. The combined 27’000 sqft space will be built on International Standards and will be divided into two separate clubs, dedicated for male and female respectively. Both clubs will boast World Class Fitness Equipment from US, Europe, etc.; fitness trainers certified by top global fitness academies; local and foreign trainers; over 150 classes per week; multiple fitness studios; TriFuel Café; members lounge; dedicated car parking and much more…

At the signing ceremony, CEO of Lucky One Mall, Mr. Sohail Tabba said, ”We have been looking for the right fitness partner for some time to match the quality standard of Lucky One Mall. With TriFit we found the right partner. They will be opening 2 world class fitness clubs staffed by international trainers in our mall. I believe it will add tremendous value to our customers and also residents within 15-20 minutes driving distance.”

CEO and Founder of TriFit, Ahmar Azam thanked Mr. Tabba for his confidence and said, “We are also proud and excited to have Lucky Group as a strategic partner.  Lucky One Mall is the perfect location to help fulfill our Corporate Mission to steer society towards an active lifestyle, encourage people to exercise daily and make healthy choices. Fitness is for everyone and we intend to provide it to the masses through our technologically driven fitness clubs, world class facility accessible to everyone, and at affordable prices. Lucky One Mall location will Insha Allah successfully open in Q2, 2022 and will be a game changer.”

Also present at the occasion was the COO of TriFit, Mudassar Khan. He shared his views, “Over the next 5 years we plan to disrupt the Pakistan fitness industry for the better, shape it, redefine it and revolutionize it! Whether you are at home, at work or transiting in between… a TriFit Fitness Club and TriFit MUV fitness App, can never be far away from you…”

With the guidance of Allah SWT and our unwavering focus, TriFit Fitness Clubs is working towards opening 50+ clubs nationwide over the next 5 years. TriFit Fitness Clubs will also be looking to open 4 more clubs around the same time in strategic locations across Karachi in Q2, 2022.

Pakistan’s clinical trial results better than eight other countries

Al-Shifa Trust held its first international research conference regarding the results of the Clinical Trial of the third and final phase of COVID-19.

Government of Pakistan has selected six hospitals for trials and the Al-Shifa Trust Hospital Research Centre completed trials 2,700 volunteers, maximum number of trials among all the hospitals.

Now, Pakistan has become a dependable country for clinical trials as its results were better than the other eight countries and it has become an important part of global research to combat the pandemic, experts said.

They noted that Pakistan turned the pandemic problem into an opportunity for research and according to the participants of the conference, now Pakistan is being studied as a model in dealing with COVID-19.

WHO Representative in Pakistan Dr. Palitha Mahipala said that Al-Shifa has helped the global effort against pandemic and noted that health and research facilities in Pakistan have rapidly transformed to cope with the challenge.

Pakistani institutions should actively participate in local, regional and national clinical trials testing new therapies for COVID-19 and the country could earn around 150 million dollars annually from the Clinical Trials, said Mahipala.

Chinese representative Miss Maria Song said that leading Chinese pharma companies are very encouraged by the response of Pakistani authorities and dedicated efforts of health and research facilities and the outcome of trials are also very promising.

Al-Shifa Trust President Major General Rehmat Khan (Retd) said, “I want to thank everyone who participated in our clinical trials.”

He said that in the beginning, we were in a state of fear and people were also scared but we accepted the challenge of clinical trials to play role in providing the best vaccine to the nation.

At the time when the healthcare research is experiencing fundamental transformation under pressing concerns of the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference organised by trust has encouraged a dialogue between stakeholders that kept participants engaged in learning and sharing the latest research insights, he added.

Dr. Zahid A. Butt, Assistant Professor, University of Waterloo, Canada, Maj Gen Aamer Ikram, ED, National Institute of Health, Dr. Shahzad Ali Khan, VC, Health Services Academy, Islamabad, Prof. Dr. Saira Afzal, Dean Preventive Medicine, Prof. Dr. Saira Afzal, Dean Preventive Medicine, King Edward Medical University, Prof. Dr. Tanvir Khaliq, VC, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University, Dr. Abdur Rasheed, Director DRAP, Dr. Jawad Gill, Head of Clinical Operations DRK Pharma, Prof. Dr Wajid Ali Khan, Chief of Medical Services,  Al-Shifa Trust, and Dr. Ume Sughra, Principal Investigator, Al-Shifa Trust were among the keynote speakers.

Coca-Cola Beverages Pakistan installs 30th water filtration in Pakistan

Coca-Cola Beverages Pakistan Limited (CCI Pakistan) installed a state-of-the-art water filtration plant for the residents of Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) under its flagship CSR project- PAANI. The plant is situated close to the location of CCI Pakistan’s 7th production plant which is currently being constructed in Haripur district. The inauguration CCI’s 30th water filtration plant in Pakistan was virtually marked during a special ceremony hosted at the office of Mr. Omar Ayub Khan, the Federal Minister of Economic Affairs, in Islamabad on December 6, 2021. Also present at the ceremony were senior officials from CCI including Mr. Ahmet Kursad Ertin, General Manager at CCI Pakistan, Mr. Servet Yildirim, Group PAC Director at CCI, and other senior officials.

 

This water filtration plant has most modern ultrafiltration water treatment technology which has the capacity to supply up to 2,000 litres per hour of safe and clean drinking water at no cost to the local population. Following this new addition, CCI has now installed a total of 30 water filtration plants across Pakistan. CCI Pakistan’s flagship project PAANI is now serving over 1 million people across the country every day with clean drinking water, including in the areas of Lahore, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Layyah, Tharparkar, Rawalpindi, and now in Haripur – protecting them from harmful waterborne diseases.

 

These waterborne diseases including typhoid, intestinal worms, diarrhoea, and gastroenteritis are very common and rampant across Pakistan. According to WWF, 20-40% of total hospital beds in Pakistan are mostly occupied by patients suffering from water borne diseases.

While commenting on this achievement, Ahmet Kursad Ertin, General Manager at CCI Pakistan said, “Owing to the lack of facilities in underprivileged communities of Pakistan, access to clean drinking water has always remained a priority for our sustainability interventions. Through our CSR project ‘PAANI’, CCI Pakistan remains committed in promoting access to safe and clean drinking water to the underprivileged communities of Pakistan. This filtration plant will not only provide safe and clean drinking water to thousands of families but will also protect them against harmful waterborne diseases.”

 

CCI is a multinational beverage company operating in 11 countries with 29 production plants. CCI Pakistan, a subsidiary of CCI, produces, distributes and sells sparkling and still beverages of The Coca-Cola Company in Pakistan. It currently serves a consumer base of 208 million with 6 productions plants and a workforce of 2,500 employees across Pakistan.

 

 

DRAP has registered a Pakistani-made ICU Ventilator ‘Pakvent’

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan has registered a locally manufactured Pakistani-made ICU ventilator (PakVent).

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has issued a registration certificate to a locally manufactured Pakistani-made ICU ventilator (PakVent). According to the certificate issued by DRAP, PakVent has been prepared by the National Engineering and Scientific Commission. Which is for patients admitted to the intensive care unit. The service life of PakVent is ten years.

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According to the DRAP, the registration of PakVent is valid for the next five years.

Chinese coronavirus vaccine Sinovac decreases Mortality by 97%

A vaccination campaign in Uruguay has disclosed that the Chinese coronavirus vaccine Sinovac decreases mortality by ninety-seven per cent.

According to the Uruguayan Ministry of Health described that the possibility of coronavirus contamination decreases by fifty-seven per cent and intensive care acceptance by ninety-five per cent in people who have attained two doses of the vaccine.

There have been a small number of the scientific declaration on the effectiveness of the Sinovac vaccine as equated to other vaccines. Moreover, the details have been extensively unlike. Nevertheless, Sinovac is being highly utilized in China and also in many other countries.

Chile described that the early results from its vaccinations campaign located Sinovac to be sixty-seven per cent effective in averting indicative diseases and eighty per cent effective in stopping deaths.

Similarly, data from Brazil revealed the vaccine to be fifty per cent productive in stopping symptomatic diseases and data from Turkey disclosed that it was over eighty per cent productive.

DRAP Approves Pakistan’s First ICU Ventilator Created by Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission

PAEC (the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission) recently Wednesday stated that Pakistan’s “first ICU (indigenous intensive care unit) ventilator”: i-Live has been developed by them.

PACE’s engineers and scientists developed that ventilator and following all the essential quality standards and all the regulatory function’s requirements, the body claimed in a statement. Furthermore, they stated that at PACE hospital in Islamabad, the doctors are provided with input as well during the development process.

The evaluation team from PEC (the Pakistan Engineering Council) and Pakistan Innovation and Technology Centre tested the i-Live ventilator and declared it fine and approved it, said PACE.

At Jinnah Hospital in Lahore, the Clinical trials of the ventilator were conducted under the supervision of senior doctors, medical researchers, and biomedical engineers. In short, the ventilator has passed all the stages of medical validation and engineering evaluation successfully.

Moreover, the spokesperson of PAEC, Shahid Riaz Khan stated that today, the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) has also approved the ventilator, and from now onward, the “i-Live” will be supplied and manufactured by PAEC to all the hospitals of Pakistan. The more he said that is a big catch for us that we have become able to create manufacturing and designing the life-saving equipment.

Mohammad Naeem the Chairman of PAEC also congratulated the doctors, scientists, and engineers who are involved in the development of the ventilator and the production is a great quantity of i-Live will immediately meet the increasing demand in the context of the ongoing Corona pandemic.

Fawad Chaudhry, Minister for Information at “#MadeInPakistan” ventilator, also congratulated PAEC.

In the last 2 years is quite appreciating, the success of Pakistan in the development of medical equipment at the international level. The more he said that he wanted to congratulate the technicians, engineers, and the entire team. Moreover, he said that this made us raise our heads with pride.

The previous day, Senator Shibli Faraz, Minister for Science and Technology said that the registration of ventilators with Drap his ministry would expedite to ensure the timely availability of their induction in export and the healthcare system.

Pak Vent-1 which is another ventilator, Nescom developed it and the PEC also stated it clearly and it is just waiting for approval from Drap.

Shibli refutes Fawad’s claim, ‘Homemade ventilators not useful’

Shibli Faraz, who is a newly appointed Science and Technology Minister, he claimed that the locally produced ventilators are not useful in addition our country has a shortage of other resources such as oxygen also to deal with any critical situation amid the surging of the covid cases.

This statement of Shilbi refuted the saying of his predecessor Fawad Chaudhry; he said that in a cabinet recently that reshuffle, and made in the information minister.

Fawad had claimed that Pakistan had joined to the ranks of those a few numbers of countries that are producing ventilators: their own-self. Furthermore, he said when he was working as science and technology minister that a ventilator is one of those complicated machines and every country does not have the capacity to make it.

 

 

Generally, a ventilator consists of 16 functions; however, the ventilators which are created at local level have only four, this thing he revealed after visiting NUST (the National University of Science and Technology) on Monday in Islamabad.

The minister stated that NRTC (the National Radio and Telecommunication Corporation) and private organizations were also manufacturing the ventilators in our country.

While answer a question regarding the activating the Oxygen Plant of PSM (the Pakistan Steel Mills), he responded that the ministry of production and industries is looking into the Oxygen Plant of PSM. In addition, regarding this he has told also the minister of production and industries.

Although, he stated that the PSM Oxygen Plant may not be ran immediately operational due to a number of problems.

During the worse Covid-19 situation in India, Shibli gave statement about supporting that Pakistan will definitely do India as much it will possible for Pakistan. He added that is the matter of humanity and Pakistan’s sympathies are with India.

Last year, in November, Fawad Ch., the science and technology minister, claimed that Pakistan has become self-sufficient regarding manufacturing the material related to Covid-19 and it is just the fruit of the scientists’ efforts, technicians, and engineers.

“The country lacked when the

During the first phase of Covid-19, our country lacked regarding the medical equipment against the pandemic in the month of February. However, presently, the situation is quite different, this statement is published by Radio Pakistan after saying of the federal minister.

Two of world’s biggest health brands coming to Pakistan: Fawad Chaudhry

Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry has claimed that this year is going to be a game changer for ‘Made in Pakistan’ medical equipment in the health sector, disclosing that two of the “world’s biggest brands” are willing to set up factories in Pakistan.
Talking on Twitter at Thursday, the federal minister said Pakistan that was previously unable to manufacture even its own syringe will join the countries that produce modern ‏
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