Medicine In Pakistan Research Articles

Investigating awareness of artificial intelligence in healthcare among medical students and professionals in Pakistan: a cross-sectional study.

The purpose of this study is to find out the level of awareness and acceptance of artificial intelligence (AI) in Pakistan's medical community so as to comment on its future in our healthcare system. A survey consisting of 15 close-ended questions was conducted. The questions inquired about awareness about AI and discovered the opinions of healthcare professionals regarding its benefits and expected problems. The data were analyzed using SPSS version 26, and descriptive statistics for percentage and frequency were computed. χ2 test was used to analyze the subgroups (Significant p value <0.05). A total of 351 participants were included in this study. General familiarity with AI was low. Only 75 (21.3%) participants answered that they had good familiarity with AI, and only 56 (16%) of them had good familiarity with the role of AI in medicine. One hundred sixty-eight (47.9%) participants disagreed that AI would out-compete the physician in the important traits of professionalism. Only 71 (20.2%) participants believed AI to be diagnostically superior to the physician. Two hundred fourteen (61.0%) were worried about completely trusting AI in its decisions, and 204(58.1%) believed that AI systems lacking human traits would not be able to mirror the doctor-patient relationship. Two hundred sixty-one (74.4%) participants believed that AI would be useful in Administrative tasks. A majority, 162 (46.2%), do not believe that AI would replace them. Finally, a huge majority of participants [225 (64.1%)] demanded the integration of AI in Pakistan's healthcare system. This study suggests that a majority of healthcare professionals in Pakistan do not believe that they are sufficiently aware of the role of AI in healthcare. This was corroborated by their answers to various questions regarding the capabilities of AI. This study indicates the need for a more comprehensive ascertainment of healthcare professionals' perceptions regarding the role of Artificial Intelligence in medicine and bridging the gap between doctors and technology to further promote a patient-centred approach to medicine.

An exploratory study to identify the factors influencing community pharmacist retention by using COM-B model

BackgroundDue to multitude of gaps in Pakistan's healthcare system, community pharmacies serve as the” first port of call” for various illnesses. However, the present scarcity of pharmacists in these settings poses significant challenges to healthcare delivery in the country. This scarcity is primarily due to difficulties in retaining pharmacists for community practice. The aim of this study was to explore the factors that influence the retention of community pharmacists by using COM-B model. MethodsA qualitative methodology employing the COM-|B model was utilized to design this study. In-depth interviews were conducted with pharmacists experienced in community pharmacy practice, at time and place convenient to them. Data were transcribed, translated and analyzed by deductive thematic analysis in accordance with the constructs of COM-B model. ResultsA diverse range of factors were identified that negatively influenced the retention of community pharmacists including working conditions and proprietor's demeanor, deficiency in training and intern experience, lack of career planning, low social acceptance, less salary and job satisfaction, less regulatory control and aptitude of renting out category. Conversely, the study also identified the factors that motivate community pharmacists to stay in their roles despite the challenges including strong educational background, abundant job opportunities, flexible schedules, direct patient engagement and positive impact on sales. ConclusionThere was an observed discrepancy between the challenges faced by community pharmacists and the motivators that encourage them to continue their job. Due to a disparity and abundance of challenges rather than motivators, retention rates for community pharmacists are low. This imbalance shed light on areas where improvements are needed to enhance pharmacist retention. Various areas for change were highlighted including strict implementation of regulations, integration of practical experience of community pharmacy practice and internships into academic programs, career guidance, and raising patient awareness about the roles of community pharmacists.

Socio-Economic Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic Among Lower Income Group of People in Pakistan

Objective: To determine the Socio-economic Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic among lower income group of people in Lahore, Pakistan Material and Methods: An analytical cross-sectional study design was used for conducting this research from April 2021 to September 2021 in Lahore and a self-structured questionnaire with multiple variables was filled by 274 participants. Non- Probability type of convenience sampling technique was used for data collection after informed consent. This paper was structured into two sections: The initial part addressed the socio-economic challenges experienced by impoverished individuals amidst the coronavirus pandemic. The subsequent section assessed the current state of Pakistan's healthcare system. Chi-square test was used for qualitative data analysis and p-value &lt;0.05 was taken as significant. Results: Most of the participants (65.7%) in this survey were males and had an income of up to Rs.20,000/ month (70.1%).Out of total, 254 (92.7%) respondents had profound impact of Covid-19 on their lives economically. Majority of them 152(55.5%) visited public places while 133(48.5%) avoided social gatherings like marriages, funerals, religious events etc. during pandemic. More than half of the participants agreed that hospital beds and oxygen were neither available nor it was affordable during their stay at hospital. A significant association was found between family income of respondents and financial crisis faced by respondents when sick with covid-19(p-value=0.05), monthly income suffered due to lockdown or decrease in economy (p-value=0.04) and loan was taken to fulfill their household needs during pandemic (p-value=0.00). Conclusion: The study showed that 254 (92.7%) respondents had profound impact of Covid-19 on their lives economically. A significant association was found between family income of respondents and financial crisis faced by respondents when sick with covid-19, monthly income suffered due to lockdown or decreases in economy and loan taken to fulfill their household needs during pandemic.

Unravelling the Interplay of Servant Leadership, Cognitive Trust, and Employee Wellbeing: A Cae of An Emerging Economy

This study examines the relationship between servant leadership, cognitive-based trust, and employee wellbeing in Pakistan's healthcare sector. Grounded in existing research, our study explains the theoretical underpinnings of servant leadership, cognitive-based trust, and employee wellbeing. Servant leadership prioritizes followers' needs, fostering positive outcomes such as organizational citizenship behavior and job engagement. Cognitive-based trust, rooted in transparent communication and shared values, is fundamental to healthy leader-follower relationships and organizational commitment. Employee wellbeing, encompassing physical and psychological dimensions, is crucial for organizational success. In Pakistan's healthcare sector, marked by its complexity and the need for positive work environments, this study investigates how servant leadership and cognitive-based trust impact employee wellbeing. Four hypotheses are formulated: (1) Servant leadership positively correlates with overall employee wellbeing, (2) Servant leadership positively influences cognitive-based trust development, (3) Higher levels of cognitive-based trust correlate with enhanced wellbeing, and (4) Servant leadership's positive influence on wellbeing is mediated by cognitive-based trust. Through empirical testing, this research aims to deepen understanding of leadership, trust, and wellbeing dynamics in healthcare, providing insights for organizational practices. By elucidating these relationships, the study seeks to contribute to the creation of flourishing and sustainable workplaces in Pakistan's healthcare sector.

Empowering Expecting Women to Obtain High-Quality Healthcare in Pakistan: An Evaluation of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Conditional Cash Transfer Program.

Maternal mortality, largely stemming from complications during pregnancy and childbirth, impacts poor expecting women with limited healthcare access in rural Pakistan. Conditional Cash Transfers (CCTs), commonly implemented in developing nations, are designed to improve the well-being of vulnerable populations by focusing on health and education. A CCT initiative named Chief Minister's Special Initiative for Mother and Child Health (CM-SIMCH) was launched in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), one of the less-developed provinces of Pakistan, to empower expecting women to access quality healthcare. This study investigates the factors influencing CM-SIMCH program participation and assesses its impact on the health of expecting women by analyzing health-seeking hospital visits in KP, Pakistan. The study utilizes the Propensity Score Matching (PSM) technique to analyze cross-sectional data obtained from 303 expecting women residing in the Nowshera district of KP. The PSM allows for a balanced comparison of participants who received the CM-SIMCH transfers with those who did not, assessing its impact on maternal healthcare access and outcomes. Empirical results show that factors such as education and family system positively influence the participation of expecting women in the CM-SIMCH program, whereas travel costs exert a negative effect. The intervention leads to a notable increase in hospital visits among these women, contributing to improved health outcomes in KP. This underscores the program's potential effectiveness in addressing maternal healthcare challenges and enhancing healthcare access for vulnerable women in less-developed areas. Therefore, empirical evidence supports the CM-SIMCH program's potential to promote maternal health and improve healthcare access in KP. The study recommends government intervention in health sector as a strategic imperative to empower women and enhance infant health.

Need of the hour? Genetic and genomic testing referrals from primary healthcare centers with inclusion of precision medicine in Pakistan.

Need of the hour? Genetic and genomic testing referrals from primary healthcare centers with inclusion of precision medicine in Pakistan.

Abstract LB290: Whole exome analysis of oral squamous cell carcinoma in local patients at tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan

Abstract The Precision Medicine Lab (PML) has been mandated by the Federal Government in 2018 to pilot precision medicine in Pakistan using genomics in oral cancer. With the Indian subcontinent as its capital, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), also dubbed as ‘poor man’s cancer', constitutes 90% of all head and neck cancers and is the highest incidence cancer found in Pakistani males. Backed by a bio-repository of clinical samples as well as a catalogue of primary cell clines, PML takes a multi-omic approach to discovering new, actionable biomarkers for diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic applications. With all necessary ethical approvals obtained from IRBs at each site along with written informed consent from each patient, treatment-naive biopsy-confirmed patients of OSCC were recruited in two main tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan. Our cohort was predominantly older with 37.84% between 41-60 years, late-stage with 78.46% presenting in stage IV and self-reportedly non-alcohol consuming (96.9%). About 44.6% reported the use of smokeless tobacco while 30.8% reported the use of both smoked and smokeless tobacco. Majority of the tumours were located in the buccal mucosa (29.2%), alveolar region (27.7%) or the vestibular region (24.6%). We obtained blood and tumour samples for matched-pair whole exome sequencing, transcriptomics and metabolomics as well as generation of primary cell lines. We also obtained saliva samples for oral microbiome analysis. Combined with the patient’s clinical history and digital histopathology images, this helps us create a multi-omic stack that we intend to make available for integrated machine learning experiments. With our whole exome sequencing now complete, we undertook a preliminary analysis for this late breaking abstract. Raw reads were aligned to the GRCh38.p14 reference genome and were called for germline and somatic SNPs and INDELs using GATK (v4.5). Mutational analysis was conducted using the maftools (v2.18.0) package in R (v4.3) by comparing against the COSMIC SBS Signature database (v3.2). We report MUC12 (100%), ZNF717 (100%), FOLR3 (86%), EPPK1 (79%) and SPATA31A6 (79%) as the top mutated genes in the subset of exomes analysed thus far for our cohort. Genes reported previously including TP53, NOTCH1 and PIK3CA appear to rank lower on the list. In terms of cancer-related pathways, RTK-RAS (92.8%), Hippo (92.8%) and Notch (78.5%) were affected in most of the samples. To our knowledge, we describe for the first time the mutational landscape in an OSCC cohort from the Pakistani population. We also go beyond whole exomes as our multi-omic approach offers the potential on machine learning experiments to identify putative mutational signatures and biomarkers for OSCC that can be of diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic value to the local (Pakistani and Afghan) patient population. With the availability of primary cell lines for every patient, we also intend to undertake experimental validation of high priority targets using primary patient-derived cell lines in the lab. Citation Format: Hina Zamir, Khudeja Salim, Madina Sherdil, Aqsa Hussain, Yusra Ilyas, Arsalan Riaz, Momal Agha, Zainab Jahan, Khadim Shah, Yasir Rehman Khattak, Fahim Uddin, Zahid Qayyum Shah, Zubair Durrani, Muhammad Mushtaq Khattak, Johar Ali, Faisal F. Khan. Whole exome analysis of oral squamous cell carcinoma in local patients at tertiary care hospitals in Peshawar, Pakistan [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 2 (Late-Breaking, Clinical Trial, and Invited Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(7_Suppl):Abstract nr LB290.

Knowledge, Awareness and Practice of Artificial Intelligence and Types of Realities Among Healthcare Professionals: A Nationwide Survey From Pakistan.

Background Artificial intelligence (AI) refers to the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, enabling them to perform tasks. The advancements in AI have also improved virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) experience allowing a greater opportunity for use in the field of medicine. Objective To evaluate the knowledge, attitude and practice of AI and types of realities among Pakistani healthcare professionals (HCPs). Materials and methods This was a prospective, nationwide study designed at the Department of Neurosurgery at Punjab Institute of Neurosciences (PINS), Lahore, was conducted between January 2024 to February 2024. More than 500 HCPswere approached, out of which 176 participated in this survey consensually. A pre-formed general questionnaire based on knowledge, attitude and practices of AI and types of realities was modified according to local conditions. Google Forms (Google Inc., USA) was used to conduct the one-time sign up response. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 24, USA) was used to analyze submitted responses. Results About 69.9% respondents were male HCPs. Most of the respondents were from the fields of neurosurgery, medicine and general surgery, i.e., 10.80%, 10.20% and 4%, respectively. More than 90% HCPs used Internet and electronic devices daily. A majority of 62.50% respondents agreed that AI brings benefits for the patients, while at the same time, 45.50% agreed that they would not trust the assessment of AI more than that of HCPs. 61% HCPs feared that AI-based systems could be manipulated from the outside sources, like terrorists and hackers. Although 90% respondents knew the definition of AR and VR,a strikingly low 40% respondents could only identify the practical applications of these realities when asked in a mini-quiz. About 61.40% HCPs never used any AI-based application throughout their clinical practice, but Google Health was used by 29.50% respondents, followedby Remote Patient Monitoring AI application used by 3.4% individuals. Conclusion There is an evident under-utilization of AI and types of realities in clinical practice in Pakistan. Lack of awareness, paucity of resources and conventional clinical practices are the key reasons identified. Pakistan is on the path towards the point where the developed world is currently. There is a potential to move past the initial stages of AI implementation and into more advanced modes of adopting AI and types of realities.

Confirmatory factor analysis and measurement invariance of the Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21) among Pakistani young adults

IntroductionThe Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) is recognized as being a widely used measure for the assessment of negative emotional states. While the DASS-21 has been widely used for assessing mental health in Pakistan, limited research has been done regarding its factor structure and measurement invariance.ObjectivesTo assess the factor structure and measurement invariance of the DASS-21 among young adults in Pakistan.MethodsA large sample of 1361 Pakistani young adults had completed the scale during the current study comprising 666 males and 695 females with a mean age of 24.51 years.ResultsExcellent internal consistency reliability was found for the overall DASS-21 and its three subscales (depression, anxiety and stress) ranging from r = .86 to .71 (Cronbach alpha). Moreover, the three subscales were strongly and significantly associated with one another. Additionally, the results showed a good fit of the three-factor model and the one-factor model of the DASS-21 aimed at assessing gender psychological distress. Strong measurement invariance was found regarding gender therefore showing that the DASS-21 is understood and interpreted similarly by males and females. However, little evidence was found regarding the three subscales (depression, anxiety and stress) for the measurement of three distinct constructs.ConclusionsThese findings confirm the utility of the DASS-21 for measuring mental health in Pakistan among young adults.Disclosure of InterestNone Declared

Investigating the mediating role of ethical issues and healthcare between the metaverse and mental health in Pakistan, China, and Saudi Arabia

This article examines the mediating role of ethical issues and healthcare on the relationship between the Metaverse and mental health. It also investigates the impact of the Metaverse on ethical issues and healthcare. It is based on quantitative methodology. Using a purposive sampling technique, a close-ended questionnaire was used to collect data from 392 nurses and doctors across Pakistan, China, and Saudi Arabia. The Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modelling technique was used for the analysis. The findings show a significant mediating role of ethical issues between the Metaverse and mental health. The results do not support the mediating role of healthcare between the Metaverse and mental health. In addition, the findings also show a positive relationship between the Metaverse and ethical issues and between ethical issues and mental health. Similarly, the findings also support the relationship between the Metaverse and healthcare. The results do not support the relationship between healthcare and mental health. The study has many implications for technology developers, scientists, policymakers, and healthcare providers.

IMPACT OF PUNCTUALITY AND REGULARITY ON LEARNING BEHAVIORS AND CLINICAL SKILLS IN POST-GRADUATE RESIDENTS AT NISHTAR HOSPITAL MULTAN

: Punctuality and regularity are crucial traits in medical education that can significantly impact learning behaviors and clinical skills development. However, there is a lack of empirical evidence investigating their impact on postgraduate residents in the Pakistani healthcare system. This qualitative study aims to explore the experiences and perceptions of doctoral residents regarding punctuality and regularity in their clinical and learning activities at Nishtar Hospital Multan. The study also seeks to identify the perceived effects of punctuality and regularity on residents' learning behaviors and clinical skills development, highlight any barriers or facilitators to maintaining punctuality and regularity in the residency program, and provide insights to inform future interventions or policies aimed at promoting punctuality and regularity among postgraduate residents. The study found that punctuality and regularity significantly enhance postgraduate residents' learning behaviors and clinical skills. Punctual and regular residents reported better time management skills, increased exposure to different cases, and improved academic performance in their clinical and learning activities. However, some residents faced barriers to maintaining punctuality and regularity, such as long working hours and inadequate supervisor support. The study suggests that interventions aimed at promoting punctuality and regularity should consider the unique challenges and opportunities of the Pakistani healthcare system and prioritize the needs and experiences of postgraduate residents.

Unveiling the Economic Impact of Allied Health Professionals in Pakistan's Healthcare Landscape

Unveiling the Economic Impact of Allied Health Professionals in Pakistan's Healthcare Landscape

Green human resource management practices and organizational sustainability performance in Pakistan's healthcare sector

The 21st century has witnessed a rapid surge in industrial pollution, accompanied by the depletion of natural resources, prompting a collective call to action. As a result, the greening of corporations and ecological sustainability has emerged as a matter of paramount importance for decision-makers worldwide. This study, thereby, aims to examine the implementation of environmentally responsible (Green) human resource management practices in the health sector and their influence on organizational sustainability performance. Methodologically, a descriptive approach was employed, utilizing a questionnaire survey to collect data from 250 healthcare employees within Pakistan's healthcare sector. The study's statistical outcomes indicate that green hiring positively influences economic performance but not social and environmental performance. However, green training, involvement, performance management, and compensation are all positively related to organizational sustainability performance, encompassing social, economic, and environmental aspects in Pakistan’s healthcare sector. By summing up, this study concludes the significance of customizing green HR practices for enhancing sustainability performance in the healthcare sector. It underscores the crucial role played by green human resource management practices and their impact on organizational sustainability performance in a developing country context, specifically in Pakistan.

Medical brain drain: A critical challenge to Pakistan's healthcare sector.

Madam, Medical brain drain describes a condition where highly skilled healthcare workers leave their country of origin to work overseas in search of better working conditions, higher pay, or more opportunities for career advancement leading to deprivation of medical professionals and a loss of expertise and talent (1). Unfortunately, the exodus of skilled individuals from Pakistan is jeopardises country's intellectual assets and demands immediate attention. Skilled healthcare workers shortage is worsening in Pakistan due to the high number of talented professionals migrating for better career opportunities in the foreign land. According to the Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment in 2022 alone, approximately 765,000 Pakistanis, including 2,500 physicians, left the country, highlighting the severity of the situation (2) The medical profession is highly regarded in Pakistan and attracts a significant number of people. Despite this, Pakistan is among the 57 countries that lack sufficient human health resources to fulfil its healthcare requirements and objectives. The country is confronted with a considerable discrepancy in the ratio of doctors to patients which stands at 1:1300, significantly below the ratio of 1:1000 recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) (3) The degradation of the healthcare system, shortage of residency positions and lower salaries during a period of high inflation, coupled with cultural biases and undervaluation of professions like nursing have led to a shortage of healthcare staff. Moreover, societal expectations for women to prioritize their domestic duties contribute to the disproportionate number of female doctors leaving the medical field. This further burdens the healthcare system by increasing the workload for the remaining healthcare professionals (4) Brain drain hampers economic growth and innovation by robbing the nation of its skilled professionals and their expertise. This issue can be addressed by adopting a comprehensive approach such. Improving the healthcare infrastructure and working conditions, increasing residency positions and salaries and providing better job opportunities could help retain competent doctors. Encouraging research on brain drain can aid policymakers in developing tailored policies based on the country's needs. These measures can help Pakistan build a robust healthcare system and provide quality medical services to its people.

Adaptive leadership and safety citizenship behaviors in Pakistan: the roles of readiness to change, psychosocial safety climate, and proactive personality.

Challenging times have put organizations in a perilous and chaotic state that demands immediate resolution and calls for effective leadership to help navigate out of the crisis. In this context, we focused on psychosocial safety climate theory to investigate the influence of adaptive leadership on safety citizenship behaviors by looking at the mediating effect of readiness to change and the moderating impact of psychosocial safety climate and proactive personality, particularly in the Pakistani healthcare sector. To test the hypotheses, the data were collected from 397 employees working in the healthcare sector of Pakistan at two different times. The results of this study supported the model. The moderated path analysis revealed that psychosocial safety climate strengthens the direct effect of adaptive leadership on readiness to change, whereas the moderating impact of a proactive personality also strengthens the relationship between readiness to change and safety citizenship behaviors. Similarly, both moderators significantly moderated the indirect impact of adaptive leadership on safety citizenship behaviors via readiness to change. To conclude, the present study has significant implications for organizations and practitioners in both steady and uncertain environments.

Perceptions and Practices of Herbal Remedy Usage during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Call for Evidence-Based Healthcare in Pakistan

Objective: To determine the prevalence, perception and practices towards the use of herbal remedies by Pakistani population during the era of covid 19 pandemic. Methodology: This cross-sectional explorative study was conducted at Department of medicine Sir Syed Medical College Karachi 2021 from the month of August 2021 to December 2021. An online google form well written by primary investigator was distributed generally to various what’s up forum throughout Pakistan with no specific inclusion or exclusion criteria. First section of the questionnaire included demographics of participants, second section include about the use of herbal remedy types, perception, beliefs of their use, source of getting them and the remedies used for the prevention of covid virus Results: This study, was conducted from August to December 2021 spread through google online forms, included 332 respondents, 52.1% of participants utilized herbal remedies for COVID-19 prevention, with 55.5% belonging to the 25-45 age group with 81.3% of them were educated females. A significant association (p&lt;0.05) was observed between herbal remedy usage and age group, gender, education, and occupation. Senna Makki (38.8%), ginger (17.7%), and kalonji (10.2%) were commonly used herbs. While 37.7% reported health benefits, 15.1% believed these herbs had no side effects, and 22.3% used them for virus prevention. Attitudes toward herbal remedy usage revealed that 47.4% agreed these herbs could prevent disease, and 36% believed no additional preventive measures were necessary while using them. Family tradition (19.3%), health professionals (14.5%), and internet/media (14.2%) were key sources of information, while Hakeem stores (16.6%) and family members (7.8%) were common herbal remedy providers. Conclusion: This study highlights an urgent need for evidence-based healthcare interventions in Pakistan regarding the utilization of herbal remedies during the virus pandemic especially when there are risks associated with the improper use and potential influence from media. Key words: Covid 19 pandemic, Herbal remedies, Perception, Practices

The role of nursing leadership in shaping a uniform national health policy in Pakistan

The role of nursing leadership in shaping a uniform national health policy in Pakistan

Experiences, Challenges, and Lessons Learned From COVID-19: A Case Study of Mental Health in Pakistan.

Experiences, Challenges, and Lessons Learned From COVID-19: A Case Study of Mental Health in Pakistan.

From Diagnosis to Survivorship: How the Tumor Boards Facilitation Forum (TEFF) Shapes the Breast Cancer Journey in Pakistan.

Background: Breast cancer is a widespread and fatal disease that impacts millions of individuals globally. Pakistan has seen a notable rise in both incidence and mortality rates, ranking among the highest globally alongside the Solomon Islands. The WHO Global Breast Cancer Initiative (GBCI) strives to decrease global mortality by 2.5% annually, emphasizing the need for awareness campaigns to educate women about the disease.Purpose: Tumor boards serve as essential interdisciplinary platforms for discussing intricate cancer cases. Nevertheless, Pakistan's health care system encounters obstacles in delivering oncology care due to limited resources. In response, the Tumor Boards Facilitation Forum (TEFF) was established to support tumor boards within the public sector.TEFF actively promotes cancer awareness and education during Pinktober through diverse initiatives. Among these is the Self-Breast Examination workshop for students, which educates them on self-examination techniques and the significance of prompt action in identifying breast cancer symptoms. Additionally, TEFF organizes yoga activities for health care professionals, advocating for holistic well-being. Collaborating with non-profit organizations like Shine Humanity, TEFF hosts awareness camps and coordinates a scarf donation drive for cancer survivors. Furthermore, TEFF arranges breast cancer awareness walks and encourages fundraising through charity events.Conclusion: In summary, breast cancer presents a significant challenge in Pakistan, necessitating immediate action through initiatives like GBCI and TEFF to raise awareness, enhance early detection, and provide comprehensive care. These efforts promote community engagement, foster connections among survivors, and empower individuals. By uniting our efforts, we can reduce the incidence of breast cancer, improve patient outcomes, and ensure comprehensive care for all affected individuals. This article aims to underscore the crucial role of tumor boards in Pakistan in enhancing awareness and education among women regarding breast cancer.

Navigating the Future: The Integration of Artificial Intelligence in Primary Care Medicine in Pakistan

The recent past has witnessed a paradigm shift with the usage of artificial intelligence (AI) within a variety of healthcare services. This transition of incorporating AI has brought about multiple favours for enhancing current services and a lot of promising results in the primary care setup of Pakistan. Primary care has diverse and sophisticated provisions hence the challenges are complicated too. The authors examine the existing practices as well as future options for incorporating AI in primary care in Pakistan.