Research and Faculty Development: Lahore and Istanbul health varsities ink MoU

Lahore: An important meeting between faculty members of the University of Health Sciences (UHS) Lahore and the University of Health Sciences Istanbul was held on Wednesday evening, chaired by Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique via a direct link from Türkiye. During the meeting, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed to enhance cooperation between the medical universities of Istanbul and Lahore. Khawaja Salman Rafique signed the MoU on behalf of UHS Lahore.

Earlier, the Provincial Minister engaged in discussions with UHS faculty along with Turkish health experts via video link, where UHS Vice-Chancellor Professor Ahsan Waheed Rathore provided a briefing on medical education in Punjab. The meeting was also attended by Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Nadia Naseem and other faculty members from UHS Lahore, while Dr. Onur Güner, Secretary General and former Director General of the University of Health Sciences Istanbul, along with other faculty members, represented the Turkish side. The prominent Turkish politician Kemalettin Aydın also participated via video link.

Both vice-chancellors briefed on the educational facilities provided to students at their respective medical institutions. Khawaja Salman Rafique expressed his admiration for the close and brotherly relations between Pakistan and Türkiye, highlighting the strong bonds of love between the two nations. He praised the achievements of the University of Health Sciences Istanbul, noting that Türkiye's healthcare system is widely recognized as a model worldwide.

Reflecting on his past experience, Rafique stated that serving as the Health Minister alongside Prime Minister Mian Shehbaz Sharif was a great privilege. He further mentioned that, in line with Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif's vision, the government is striving to provide better healthcare facilities to the public, including the launch of Punjab's first-ever air ambulance service and the establishment of the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cancer and Research Center in Lahore and the Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology in Sargodha.

Khawaja Salman Rafique emphasized the importance of transparency in the Punjab Health Department, noting that UHS Lahore is leading among the seven medical universities in Punjab. He expressed the desire to further strengthen academic ties between the University of Health Sciences Lahore and the University of Health Sciences Istanbul, particularly given the current challenging economic conditions. He highlighted the need for collaboration in research, faculty development, and student training, and expressed a keen interest in benefiting from the expertise of the Turkish medical university.

UHS Vice-Chancellor Professor Ahsan Waheed Rathore stated that UHS is the largest health sciences university in Punjab, offering over 100 programs and affiliating with more than 150 institutions. He announced that UHS will soon establish an international medical college and will seek assistance from the Turkish medical university's experiences. Turkish health experts showed special interest in UHS's ongoing postgraduate programs.

In his address, Dr. Onur Güner welcomed the Provincial Health Minister of Punjab, Khawaja Salman Rafique, to the University of Health Sciences Istanbul, a university established during the reign of Sultan Abdul Hamid II. He noted that the University of Health Sciences Istanbul is pioneering new paths in the field of research. Dr. Onur Güner praised Pakistani mangoes and requested some to be sent from Lahore, to which UHS Vice-Chancellor Professor Ahsan Waheed Rathore promised to send Chonsa and Anwar Ratol mangoes.