2 weeks Ago By NEWS WIRE
Lahore - Pakistan made history this week by hosting the 10th Biennial Congress of the Asia Pacific Paediatric Cardiac Society (APPPCS)—the country’s largest-ever international medical gathering—in Lahore. The four-day event, held at a local hotel, brought together over 120 leading cardiac specialists and paediatric healthcare professionals from 30 countries, marking a major milestone in regional medical collaboration. Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique, speaking as the chief guest at the opening ceremony on Saturday, welcomed the delegates and praised the organizers for highlighting such a critical health issue.
“We are honoured to host this prestigious event in Pakistan for the very first time,” he said, congratulating Professor Masood Sadiq and his team for successfully organizing the congress. The congress featured participation from 21 APPPCS member countries, including Pakistan, Japan, India, Australia, New Zealand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Iran, and Turkey. Experts from 12 other countries—including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and Uganda—also attended.
Notable participants included Dr Tosho Naka (Japan), Dr Rajesh Sharma (India), Dr Marco Carminati (Italy), Dr Shakeel Qureshi (UK), and Dr Zahid Amin (US). FMD outbreak spreading in SW due to lack of vaccination “This is not just a congress—it is a landmark event showcasing Pakistan’s growing role in global paediatric cardiac care,” said the minister. He also highlighted the Punjab government’s commitment to children’s health through the Chief Minister’s Children’s Heart Surgery Programme, which has facilitated 3,000 free cardiac surgeries for children over the past three months.
“This programme is close to the heart of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, and a dedicated fund has been established to ensure its continuity,” he added. Vice Chancellor of the University of Child Health Sciences, Professor Masood Sadiq—recently elected as the new president of the Asia Pacific Pediatric Cardiac Society for the next two years—delivered the welcome address. During the congress, live surgeries and interventional procedures were performed on children, showcasing real-time innovations in paediatric cardiac care.
Health Dept directs setting up of DDPRU in Lakki More than 100 international experts presented research papers, making this gathering the most extensive paediatric cardiac event ever hosted in Pakistan. The congress not only highlighted the country’s advancing capabilities in specialized medical care but also opened new avenues for future collaboration in paediatric cardiac research and treatment across the Asia-Pacific region and beyond. Tags: pakistan hosts landmark.
