Pakistani Medical Students Watch Surgery Over the Internet

75 universities across the country were connected to the event.

Online learning tools took another step forward in Pakistan over the weekend.

Students took part in the country’s first ever interactive surgery, via a web broadcast. Videoconferencing equipment was set up at Holy Family Hospital in Rawalpindi, as they broadcast a workshop on “Advanced Upper GI Laparoscopic Surgery,” in conjunction with The Higher Education Commission (HEC).

“The HEC has strengthened physical and technological infrastructure in universities. How they make use of these facilities is up to them,” said HEC’s Chairperson, Dr. Javaid Laghari

“Video conferencing may be used for guest lectures, national and international seminars and conferences. Universities may even offer joint courses through this facility.”

The webinar showed live demonstrations of laparoscopic procedures such as:

• Minimally invasive laparoscopic oesophagectomy
• Laparoscopic surgery for hiatus hernia
• Single port laparoscopic surgery procedures like cholecystectomy and appendicectomy.

75 universities across the country were connected to the event, as doctors, consultants, and students watched the workshop.

Earlier this month, The Swedish Medical Centre showed a knee surgery live online, with the chance to ask questions via Twitter or their live chat.

The webcast gave participants an unprecedented chance to watch a robotic-assisted knee replacement surgery.