Message from Patron In Chief
The Pakistan Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation was formed around 2005 by its founder members notably Dr. Moeed Ahmad Kazi from Karachi and Dr. Khalid Jamil Akhtar from Mayo Hospital Lahore. The membership grew as the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Pakistan started producing Physiatrists since 2001. The Society is a professional registered organization to further help and facilitate training of Physicians and facilitate the allied health team members comprising Physiotherapists, Occupational Therapists, Speech and Language Pathologists, Prosthetists and Orthotics in order to provide optimal care and heath of the disabled. Physiatrists are actively involved in proving highest standards of training to its team members. There is also immediate need to develop Psychological services for assessment and and therapy with particular reference to CBT and the like. We also need to have Social workers with out these Rehabilitation services to help the return of the disabled to community, to work or continuation of education may not be productive. The availability and training of these services can be further augmented by arranging fellowships in their respective fields to study abroad and participation in symposia and conferences organized at local levels.
The society has organized three national conferences and two international conferences. The members have read papers on different aspects of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in Pakistan and in different countries. Upto January 2016, the membership reached to about 75 physicians. The standard of Physiotherapy has improved tremendously. Occupational Therapy, Speech and Language pathology and Prosthetist/Orthotists are also also making leaps. The PSPR is temporarily affiliated with ISPRM - International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine. Hopefully it will have two members on the executive committee of ISRPM. This will help raise the standards through active participation with other participating countries. The society is fortunate to have Retired. Major General Akhtar Waheed as President of PSPMR. He helped organize the first International conference held in AFIRM 2015. His continued guidance will further promote rehabilitation cause. There is great future of Physiatry in Pakistan. There is need to strive for establishing State of Art Services in PM&R in Pakistan. We have talents to work achieve the goal. Services are rapidly expanding and there is increasing demand of Physicians in Physiatry. I must congratulate the dedicated Web Engineers who under the dynamic leadership of Dr. Abdul Ghaffar and Dr. Ahmad Zaheer Qureshi is working incessantly to put up PSPMR on Line.
Dr. Syed Rafi Uddin Ahmad Kirmani