As Pakistan is among the Developing Nations, and Prosthetics & Orthotics Sciences is not priority for govenment and business sectors. Nationally it was introduced after the earthquake 2005 when there were hundreds and thousands of patients were reported with amputations and looking for some supportive devices for their mobility and social integrity. The provision of artifical limbs and supporting devices was the responsibility of sitting govenment but unfortunately the need was fulfilled by the NGO's and no initiative was taken at government level to establish the state of the art Prosthetics & Orthotics Department even in a teaching hospitals.
The second main factor of the delay in introduction of field at national level was the attitude of the very 1st Institution of Orthotics & Prosthetics Sciences in Pakistan. O&P was limited to a specific region and to the specific community and rest of the Nation was even unaware about the presence of that institution. Ater the earthquake a change was noted and foreign trained Rehabilitation and Orthopedic Surgeons worked for the establishment of O&P centres in teachning hospitals for the provision of services.
Currently 4 institutions are working for the education and training of Prosthetics & Orthotics in Pakistan.
Rawalpindi Medical College & Kind Edward Medical University are working in Punjab where as Pakistan Institute of Prosthetics & Orthotics Sciences in Peshawar and Dow University of Health Sciences in Karachi.
No efforts are seen at government level to support the physically disabled population to start a new life with new aims, by using artificial limbs or supporting devices as they are unable to provide the food to all. Its very challenging for upcoming P&O to survive in this hard situation but there are lots of opportunities yet available to serve the nation other then government sector.
1st National Orthotics & Prosthetics Conference was organized by the Pioneer batch graduates of Rawalpindi Medical College and Founder Executive body of Prosthetics Orthotics Society of Pakistan. It was appriciated and a gross change was noticed in seniors attitude towards the promotion of profession. Many of them yet using the junior professional for personal businesses and benifits.
As we as I belive no one is perfect in her/his field but needs continous strugle and hardwork. I belive that we should promote the research work and go for establishment of our own resource centres. We need to be unite and productive for the national and humanitarian intrests. No nation can grow in the absence of their own standards and litratures. So beyond the racial and personal interests we should need to work for the profession and for the professionals. This will ultimately give us respect and honour.
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