GMC Sgr’s paediatric surgery deptt becomes centre of learning for surgeons outside J&K

Srinagar, April 17: Paediatric Surgery Department of GMC Srinagar is becoming a mark of attraction for those interested in doing observership programs for paediatric surgeons outside Jammu and Kashmir. Growing a centre of excellence in some important areas of the specialty, the department is scaling a new high.
Discussing its functioning, Head Department of Paediatric Surgery, GMC Srinagar said the department has been performing around 750 major operations every year for the past three years.
He said that the paediatric surgical procedures performed by paediatric surgeons posted in General Surgery, would amount to more than a thousand in GMC Srinagar.
The operations include Genitourinary, Hepatobiliary, Thoracic, Gastrointestinal, Anorectal, Spinal Dysraphism, advanced Paediatric Laparoscopic and Thoracoscopic procedures etc.
The department conducted the first observership program in January this year and five paediatric surgeons have already registered for the next observership program in June this year.
These programs, he believes, are going to be a regular feature in the department now onwards. The department also has a DNB program in place and it expects to start the MCh program soon.
“We are looking forward to having some useful exchange programs with some national and international institutions of repute,” he added.
The department is running intramural and extramural research projects funded by the institution and some national funding agencies like ICMR, respectively. Some internationally funded projects also stand applied for, the HOD added.
“We are glad to see all the departments of our institution grow so fast, really inspiring us to follow,” he said and expressed gratitude to other departments like Anaesthesiology, Critical Care, Paediatric Medicine, Radio-diagnosis, Pathology for offering their support and expertise.
“Once we shift Paediatric Surgery Department to Children Hospital at Bemina, as desired and ordered by administration, we will be able to expand and improve the services making the department the largest paediatric surgery facility in Jammu and Kashmir,” he added.
He also said that the Children Hospital Bemina has the facility to conduct neonatal surgeries which are not being done regularly at Super Speciality Hospital, Shireen Bagh. “We have been referring most of these cases to the department of Paediatric Surgery, SKIMS Soura,” the HOD said. “We are thankful to the SKIMS team for the support to help us grow” he said.
Given the current status of the department, doctors are optimistic about reaching national and international standards in the near future.