A 32-member delegation from the Armed Forces Post Graduate Medical Institute (AFPGMI) of Rawalpindi Monday visited Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC), as part of an educational course and was introduced to the CyberKnife and Tom-therapy technology installed in the Radiation Oncology Department, JPMC.
According to a press release, ‘this is a recent invention and first of its kind in a public-sector hospital in the country that facilitates free treatment of patients from across the world, irrespective of ethnicity, religion, nationality,’.
Executive Director JPMC and Acting Vice Chancellor JSMU Prof. Shahid Rasul said at the occasion, ‘The objective of this institution is to preserve the name of the Father of the Nation, and I’m grateful for the contribution from the Government of Sindh and civil society for upgrading the tertiary healthcare system of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC).’
The delegation was headed by Major General Zaheer Akhtar, Commandant AFPGMI, Brigadier Muhammad Zaman, Semester DS, Colonel Saadullah Abbasi, OIC training, Lieutenant Colonel Irfan, G1 training, along with 27 Postgraduate students of MSc Healthcare and Administration, AFPGMI.Commandant AFPGMI Major General Zaheer Akhtar thanked Professor Shahid Rasul and Head of Radiology Department, CyberKnife, and Tom-therapy Professor Tariq Mahmood for sparing time and reciprocated the gesture by presenting a memento on the occasion.
‘ Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) introduced its first unit of CyberKnife in 2012, and the second unit was installed in 2018, which causes minimal tissue destruction as compared to other Radiation treatments available in Pakistan’s top healthcare system,’ Professor Tariq Mahmood briefed the audience.Dean of Medicine Professor Masroor Ahmed, Deputy Executive Director Dr Mohammad Suleman and Dr Yahya Tunio, Deputy Director Administration Dr Nousheen and Dr Kauser addressed the delegation.
CyberKnife – a premium robotic radio surgery structure that treats malignant tumors and offers a curative treatment with absolute minimal side effects. Its robotic arm diagnoses the patient for precision and reduces the risk of collateral damage and because of the precision; it does not lead to any morbidity or mortality.
‘The operational cost for CyberKnife is endured by Government of Sindh, partially, whereas the staff expense is covered by the donation received at Patients Aid Foundation, a non-governmental organization’, shared Prof. Tariq.
‘Patients from 163 cities in Pakistan and 15 countries have received treatment from CyberKnife, which removes residual mass through radiation. Our aim for 2022 is to install another unit that treats around 24-30 patients simultaneously,’ he added.
While answering a question from a guest, Prof. Tariq said that a very stringent criterion is applied for the selection of patient, since JPMC invests around thousand to two thousand dollars on a single patient, and ensures 99 percent cure.
Towards the end of the visit, Prof. Tariq briefed the delegation on other facilities and operations of Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) and presented mementos to the delegation, and extended thanks for their visit to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC).
