Tag: (AKUH)

Karachi, January 24, 2023 (PPI-OT):The Aga Khan University Hospital’s flagship Pharmacy Trainee Programme has received the coveted American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) accreditation for International Pharmacy Practice Residency Programmes (IPPR), becoming the first academic medical centre outside the United States, the third international hospital and the first in Pakistan, to receive the prestigious three-year accreditation under its IPPR standards.

This accreditation helps raise the standards of training for pharmacists, who offer critical services in patient care. Well-dispensed medicines ensure their best use and efficacy with expert management of the patient’s response as well as medicine interaction.

With this accreditation, the AKUH Pharmacy Residency Programme has become an internationally recognized training site and will serve as a role model for producing exemplary practitioners, who will positively impact the practice of pharmacy in Pakistan.

The one-year pharmacy traineeship programme, being offered at AKUH since 1990, has more than 800 alumni rendering professional pharmacy services, and acting as pioneers in the field in Pakistan. The accreditation also advances AKUH’s traineeship programme to a residency model with international recognition, joining a community of over 2,000 sites across the world with accredited programmes.

As part of the accreditation process, AKUH’s pharmacy traineeship programme complied with stringent competencies, educational goals, and objectives, including more than 100 ASHP residency learning objectives, and more than 200 measurable elements.

ASHP standards cover fundamental pharmacy practice areas such as Practice Foundation Skills, Drug Information Medication Policy, and Drug Safety, Practice Management and Leadership, Patient care, Education of others, and Project management.

Congratulating the pharmacy team on achieving this milestone, Dr Farhat Abbas, Interim CEO AKU Health Services Pakistan, said, “the ASHP accreditation is a testament to the fact that our patients are at the forefront of everything we do,” adding that, “this accreditation is not only a feather in the cap for AKUH but also for the country.”

Lauding the teams for their dedication and hard work, Dr Adil Haider, Dean Medical College, AKU, said, “By getting ASHP-accredited, AKU has demonstrated its continuing commitment to advancing pharmacy practice and providing quality patient care,” adding that the accreditation will serve as means to adopt and implement an even higher quality pharmacy practice and an enhanced residency programme.

Highlighting the impact of the accreditation, Syed Shamim Raza, Director of Pharmacy Services, Pakistan, said, “We set ourselves the goal to develop our pharmacy practices further to fulfill AKUH’s vision of raising the standards of healthcare in Pakistan and we achieved this goal through the ASHP accreditation which marks us as a world-class institution for hospital pharmacy practice and training, ensuring that our patients benefit from international best practices of pharmacy.”

ASHP is a US-based professional organization that represents pharmacists serving as patient care providers in hospitals and other healthcare settings. They believe that hospitals with accredited pharmacy residency programmes are publicly demonstrating their commitment to advancing pharmacy practice and providing high-quality patient care.

The organization’s nearly 75,000 members include pharmacists, student pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians. Being one of the most innovative and comprehensive institutional pharmacy networks in Pakistan, AKUH pharmacies are trusted for delivering high-quality and authentic medications, through a robust team of highly qualified pharmacists and technicians.

Our pharmacy residency programme, is the largest ASHP-accredited programme in the world and aims to develop competent pharmacists, who are equipped with the necessary skills and professional knowledge to raise the standards of pharmacy practice in Pakistan.​

For more information, contact:
Marketing and Communications,
The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH)
Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500, Karachi – 74800, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-111-911-911
Email: akuh.information@aku.edu
Website: https://hospitals.aku.edu/pakistan/

Karachi, December 07, 2022 (PPI-OT):They say ‘Quality is a journey, not a destination.’ This is fully embodied in the DNA of the Aga Khan University Hospital, where Quality, as one of our four guiding principles, along with Relevance, Access and Impact, is constantly invested in and progressed upon.

The latest example of this is CAP – College of American Pathologists – Accreditations for more of AKUH’s Clinical Laboratories across Pakistan. In a journey that began long before our – and Pakistan’s – first CAP accreditation in February 2017, the AKUH Main Campus has been re-accredited twice since, and now our Outreach labs are also CAP accredited.

Outreach Labs are those lab facilities which are equipped to process routine clinical lab samples quickly, so patients can get rapid turnaround on their lab tests. In the AKUH Outreach Health Network, our Outreach Labs serve their home cities, as well as surrounding geographical regions. The same level of the highest quality of testing is offered across all 290+ AKUH lab facilities in Pakistan; CAP accreditations offer external endorsements of this fact.

With this latest accreditation round, the Aga Khan University Hospital’s Main Hospital Lab and Outreach Labs in Karachi, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Faisalabad, Multan, Hyderabad and Sukkur are now all CAP-accredited, offering even greater confidence to our patients and their families to the highest level of trusted quality testing that AKUH offers and is known for.

The accreditation certifies that AKUH’s clinical laboratories follow over 3,500 international standards to provide our patients with timely and accurate results every time, which is essential for timely disease diagnosis and treatment.

A team of three inspectors, Dr Aaron Han, Dr Stefan Weber and Ms Linana Seejan, who are practising professionals qualified through the CAP training programme – carried out the virtual and on-site audits of the AKUH Clinical Labs.

The audits comprised a comprehensive assessment of quality records, staff qualifications, and validation of tests, equipment, facilities, safety programmes and overall management against 3,500+ indicators that were successfully met by AKUH Clinical Labs.

Congratulating all the teams involved in achieving this milestone, AKU President, Dr Sulaiman Shahabuddin, said, “Our lab network’s widespread impact throughout Pakistan has contributed to AKU becoming a national institution,” adding that we have excellent leaders and teams of people, who work at our labs across the country; each one of them has played an integral role in this success.​

At a post-audit summation ceremony held at AKU’s Stadium Road campus on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, the CAP team expressed their satisfaction and delight and commended the efforts of the people who were involved in maintaining the highest quality standards across our laboratories every day.

Congratulating AKUH on achieving the CAP accreditation for the Outreach Labs, Dr Aaron Han, Chief Auditor CAP, lauded the high-quality standards throughout AKUH’s lab network and said, “Your quality systems are very strong, and you have competent people who manage your labs. You are the leader of lab systems throughout Pakistan.”​

This CAP-accredited level of quality testing is available across Pakistan to people from all walks of life; patient welfare support is offered to patients at over 240 locations across Pakistan. In addition, Zakat support to eligible and willing mustaheq is also offered at over 100 locations in the country.​

For more information, contact:
Marketing and Communications,
The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH)
Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500, Karachi – 74800, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-111-911-911
Email: akuh.information@aku.edu
Website: https://hospitals.aku.edu/pakistan/

Karachi, November 30, 2022 (PPI-OT):​The Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan (AKUH) was awarded the prestigious National Annual Fire Safety Award, as a testament to its readiness and strict compliance with fire safety protocols, and always prioritizing patient and staff safety.

The 12th Annual Fire Safety Award 2022, arranged by the National Forum for Environment and Health (NFEH) in association with the Fire Protection Association of Pakistan (FPAP), took place on Wednesday, November 23, 2022. AKUH’s Safety and Security team received the award after exhibiting outstanding Fire Safety performance in the service sector, following a thorough evaluation by an independent panel of judges.

The award criteria tested strict safety and security protocols in Fire Safety Management Program, Leadership Commitment, Staff Participation, Goals, and Objectives, Training Programs and Progress, Evacuation Drill Evidence, Fire Compartmentation Drawings, Fire Extinguishers Inventory, Inspection Checklists, Fire Plans Evidence, Fire Safety Equipment Inventory Detail, Fire Safety Equipment Maintenance Responsibility, Hazards Identification Checklist Evidences, Means of Egress Inventory and Inspection Checklist, Fire Risk Assessment Summary.

The safety and security of patients, visitors, staff, and students are of paramount importance to us at AKUH, and regular staff training and fire drills are conducted to ensure compliance and readiness for any fire-related emergencies.​

For more information, contact:
Marketing and Communications,
The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH)
Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500, Karachi – 74800, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-111-911-911
Email: akuh.information@aku.edu
Website: https://hospitals.aku.edu/pakistan/

Karachi, October 28, 2022 (PPI-OT):​The Aga Khan University Hospital continued its tradition of the annual ‘Pink Walk’ to raise awareness of Breast Cancer. The walk was organized at the AKUH’s Stadium Road Campus and was attended by hundreds of people, including AKU staff, students, faculty, members of the general public and the media.

The walk is part of a month-long AKUH campaign, titled “Let’s Defeat Breast Cancer Together”, the purpose of which is to encourage early screening, diagnosis and treatment for the disease. It is estimated that one in every eight women is at a high risk of breast cancer.

Research shows that the disease responds very well to treatment when caught and treated early. Awareness campaigns such as these bring focus to the issue, so more and more human lives can be saved.

After a spirited walk, led by a talented group of children playing in a flute band, Dr Shahid Shafi, CEO of AKUH, P spoke about the importance of holding such events to raise awareness about breast cancer. He said early diagnosis and timely detection play a vital role in curbing breast cancer. Therefore it’s important to be aware of the signs and symptoms of the disease for timely treatment.

Dr Abida Sattar, Section Head of Breast Surgery at AKUH, championed the multi-pronged cause of Breast Cancer awareness, screening, diagnosis and treatment and reiterated that early detection plays a vital role in timely treatment.

She went on to add that breast cancer is a disease that is not limited to women, but can affect men as well. She also urged men to make sure the women in their lives get screened each year and immediately seek a specialist’s opinion in case of any symptoms.

Renowned celebrities, Osama Tahir, Zhalay Sarhadi, and Umer Alam also pledged their support to the cause by leading the participants during the walk, which was held at the Sports and Rehabilitation Centre at the Hospital’s Stadium Road Campus.

While the Pink Walk was the highlight of the evening, the Hospital’s breast surgeons and other clinical leads leveraged this opportunity to interact and educate the attendees of the walk and the wider audience on the benefits of timely breast screening, diagnosis, and treatment.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is celebrated internationally every October. AKUH dedicates the entire month to educating the public that early detection saves lives. In addition to encouraging women who are 40 years of age and above to get screening mammograms done every year, the Hospital also encourages men to support their mothers, sisters, wives, and daughters, to get screened and not ignore any symptoms.

The Aga Khan University Hospital, Pakistan has a robust Patient Welfare and Zakat programme. In 2021 alone, 950,000 patients received financial support worth PKR 3.7 billion, giving them access to AKUH services across our network, present in over 120 cities in Pakistan.

For more information, contact:
Marketing and Communications,
The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH)
Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500, Karachi – 74800, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-111-911-911
Email: akuh.information@aku.edu
Website: https://hospitals.aku.edu/pakistan/

Karachi, October 21, 2022 (PPI-OT):Prof Dr Marleen Temmerman, Director of the Centre of Excellence in Women and Child Health, Aga Khan University, has been elected to the U.S. National Academy of Medicine. ​She was granted the honour for her numerous leadership positions at AKU and global organizations. Prof Marleen is also one of the authors of the UN Global Strategy for Women, Children and Adolescent Health.

Speaking on her election, Prof Marleen said, “I am humbled and honoured to be elected to the U.S. National Academy of Medicine. I am extremely proud to join this esteemed Academy and grateful to many colleagues with whom I am sharing this with. Most of all, I am thankful to the Academy for this recognition of our work in women’s health and rights. It gives meaning and purpose to what we do.”

Election to the Academy is considered one of the highest honours in the fields of health and medicine. It recognizes individuals who have demonstrated outstanding professional achievement and commitment to service and made major contributions to the advancement of the medical sciences, healthcare, and public health.

“This extraordinary class of new members is comprised of exceptional scholars and leaders who have been at the forefront of responding to serious public health challenges, combatting social inequities, and achieving innovative discoveries. Their expertise will be vital to informing the future of health and medicine for the benefit of us all,” said National Academy of Medicine President Victor J. Dzau while welcoming the new members.

Prof Marleen is one of the world’s most exemplary gynaecologists and a “polymath in reproductive health”, as stated by The Lancet. She beat all odds to study medicine at the Ghent University in Belgium and went ahead to become the first female professor of gynaecology in Belgium.

Throughout her diverse portfolio of medical, political, and academic work, Prof Marleen has contributed to improvements in healthcare for disadvantaged populations and for the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women and girls. She has also established a worldwide network of universities in the field of reproductive, maternal, new-born, and adolescent health. Prof Marleen continues to be a vocal and ardent champion for the rights of women, children, and adolescents globally.

The reputable professor has earned numerous awards and achievements including a Lifetime Achievement Award by the British Medical Journal, the Moran of the Order of the Burning Spear by former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, and meritorious gynaecologist from FIGO, the International Federation of Gynaecologists and Midwives.

​Despite her previous achievements, Prof Marleen is focused on continuing to majorly contribute towards the sexual and reproductive health and rights of women. She aspires to continue investing in research and mentoring young African researchers in health, sciences, technologies, and gender, and in knowledge translation to leverage implementation and use of available data to improve health systems and universal health coverage, as well as sexual and reproductive health and rights.

For more information, contact:
Marketing and Communications,
The Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH)
Stadium Road, P.O. Box 3500, Karachi – 74800, Pakistan
Tel: +92-21-111-911-911
Email: akuh.information@aku.edu
Website: https://hospitals.aku.edu/pakistan/