KARACHI: Ziauddin University marked a pivotal moment in Pakistan's healthcare landscape by hosting a Patient & Public Engagement summit.

This summit brought together public engagement experts, healthcare professionals, and patient advocates to highlight the critical importance of involving patients and the public in health research, setting a new standard for inclusivity and collaboration in the field.

The aim of the summit was to underscore the critical importance of integrating patients and the public into health research, promoting a collaborative approach that enhances the relevance and impact of healthcare solutions in Pakistan. The summit emphasized collaboration between researchers and the community as an essential step in shaping the future of health care in Pakistan.

The Summit was inaugurated by Dr. Zulfiqar Ali Umrani, co-director of the Clinical Trials Unit at Ziauddin University. The Public & Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) initiative, led by the Critical Care Medicine Research Group, was introduced by Professor Dr. Nikhat Ahmed Siddiqui.

As the first program of its kind in Pakistan, it underscores the university's commitment to making clinical trials more relevant and impactful by actively involving patients, families, and the public. Dr. Siddiqui emphasized that the PPIE program extends beyond clinical trials, applying its patient-centered approach across various medical specialties to ensure that research effectively addresses the real-world needs of the community.

The discussion on the significant challenges and opportunities of integrating Public & Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) into clinical trials across Pakistan was highlighted by Professor Dr. Saeed Hamid, Director of the Clinical Trials Unit at Aga Khan University. He emphasized how embracing this inclusive approach could revolutionize the country's health research by making it more patient-centered and impactful.

The critical need to integrate patients' voices into research was highlighted by Mr. Adnan Masood, a Banking and Technology Consultant and public representative in Ziauddin University's PPIE group. He emphasized that the success of healthcare innovations relies heavily on understanding and addressing patients' needs and concerns-an aspect frequently overlooked in traditional research frameworks.

Adding a global perspective, Dr. Rakhshi Memon, Research Fellow at University College London, shared valuable insights from her work with Public & Patient Involvement and Engagement (PPIE) in Pakistan. She discussed best practices for effectively engaging the public in health research, offering practical strategies and examples from her experiences.

Following this, Dr. Ashleigh Cheyne, Public Engagement Expert at the Pandemic Science Institute, University of Oxford, presented her experiences from the UK. She focused on the development of the PLATINUM treatment plan for Mpox patients during the 2022 outbreak, highlighting how public involvement was instrumental in shaping the treatment plan and improving patient outcomes.

In addition to the presentations by Prof. Dr. Saeed Hamid, Mr. Adnan Masood, Dr. Rakhshi Memon and Dr. Ashleigh Cheyne, the summit featured an engaging panel discussion joined by Dr Zulfiqar Ali Umrani.Ziauddin University's PPIE initiative is poised to play a pivotal role in the advancement of health research, bridging the gap between researchers and the communities they serve, and setting new standards for inclusive and patient-focused healthcare.

Published in The Daily National Courier, August, 21 2024

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