Srinagar, Sep 20, KNT: Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) on Monday has sought setting up of a medical university in Kashmir.

“The medical university would strengthen and expand the health sector and transform the health care scenario in the region,” said DAK President Dr Nisar ul Hassan.

“With expanding medical, nursing and other allied health sciences, medical university is the need of the hour,” he said.

The DAK President said medical varsity would integrate the health care system and provide effective and efficient patient care.

“The varsity would provide competent caring physicians through quality undergraduate and postgraduate training that would shape the future of the health care in JK,” he said.

“The quality of nurses and paramedics would also improve through outstanding education that would produce a paradigm change in patient care,” he added.

General Secretary DAK Dr Arshad Ali said the varsity would give new direction to medical curriculum that would raise the standards of practice of medicine.

“The university would provide an environment that is conducive for research which would bring us on the scientific map of the world,” he said.

Vice-President DAK Dr Mir Mohd Iqbal said the separate medical university would end the shortage of doctors, nurses and paramedics that is taking a heavy toll on the patients.

“It would serve as an international magnet and will attract high quality professionals across the globe to practice, teach and research in an academic medical environment,” he said.

“Due to the lack of medical university, medical students suffer immensely as examinations, results and awarding of degrees often get delayed,” said Javid Qanangoo senior executive member DAK.

“Jammu and Kashmir has dozens of medical institutions, including medical, dental and paramedical colleges, which are currently affiliated to Kashmir and Jammu universities. The two universities are already overburdened with the affairs of their own academic institutions and find it hard to cater to the needs of thousands of medical and paramedical students,” he said.(KNT)