World Anesthesia Day observed at Lahore General Hospital

Lahore : Principal Postgraduate Medical Institute Prof. Ghias-un-Nabi Tayyab has said that field of anesthesia is no more limited to the operation theaters but it has become integral part of every hospital and 70 to 80 percent working of any hospital revolves around the department of anesthesia. It is no more a surgical sub-specialty.

He expressed these views while addressing a seminar held in Lahore General Hospital to observe World Anesthesia Day, here today. President Pakistan Society of Anesthesiologist Lahore and Member Board of Management PGMI Prof. Khalid Bashir, Prof. Shahida Khawaja, Dr. Judat Saleem, faculty members and a large numbers of doctors attended the seminar. 16^th of October is observed as World Anesthesia Day all over the world. The idea of celebrating this day is to raise the awareness about safe administration of anesthesia.

Prof. Ghias-un-Nabi Tayyab further said that modern technology and advancement in the field of anesthesiology, the anesthetic mortality rate has reduced dramatically over a number of decades. It used to be 1:10000 in 1960 and now it has gone down to 1:100000. He said that there is an acute shortage of anesthetics all over the world, especially in Pakistan. He said that Punjab government as well as PGMI Lahore is taking solid steps for producing anesthetics and training courses in anesthesia are being offered to the medical officers in PGMI.

Prof. Khalid Bashir and Dr. Judat Saleem stressed the need of safe use of anesthesia. They said that doctors have greater role and responsibilities pertaining to patients healthcare, safety and decision making. They said that anesthetics, all over the world are advancing the practice of anesthesia and trying to secure a safe future for the patients. They said that this day reminds us and motivates us to fulfill our responsibility of steering the future prospects of anesthesia by amplifying our efforts for betterment of medical education, adoption of new ideas and provision of healthcare services with epitomic safety.

The doctors said that anesthesia has made it possible for patients to obtain the benefits of various surgical and non-surgical treatments that would not have been possible without it. The slogan of World Federation of Societies of Anesthesiologists is “Safe Anesthesia ensures Safe Surgery” and the doctors have to materialize this motto.