Symposium on Updates in Respiratory Medicine and Workshop on Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Kathmandu University Medical School (KUMS), Dhulikhel Hospital, Health Exchange Nepal (HExN) and Society of Internal Medicine of Nepal (SIMON) jointly organised a symposium on updates in respiratory medicine and a workshop on pulmonary rehabilitation on the 8th and 9th April, at Dhulikhel Hospital, Nepal. This programme was endorsed by the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh (RCPE).

Five of the speakers travelled from the UK to Dhulikhel. Professor Derek Bell, the President of the Royal College of Physicians was one of the speakers from the UK. Five other speakers attended from various hospitals/ health institutes in Nepal.

The symposium on updates in Respiratory Medicine was held on the first day with over 100 participants from across Nepal. Participants included senior and eminent Nepalease physicians. There was active participation by delegates with lively discussions and Q/A sessions.

The workshop on Pulmonary Rehabilitation on the second day was also fully subscribed with almost 50 participants. There were active discussions on practical aspects of pulmonary rehabilitation.

Overall feedback was excellent. Delegates were keen on more, hands on experience in the future.

I am very pleased to lead the organisation of this programme which was approved for 6 CPD points. The organisers are very keen to organise the update sessions/workshop on an annual basis and I hope that the collaboration with the KUMS, SIMON, RCPE and HExN will continue in the years to come.

There were discussions on future cooperation between the SIMON executives and the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh over dinner hosted by the HExN. The Royal College agreed to look at ways of supporting postgraduate education in Nepal and the possibilities of hosting MRCP examinations in Nepal. The College would also look at supporting conferences of Society of Internal Medicine in Nepal in the future.

HExN wishes to thanks Sudhir Lohani, Consultant Respiratory Physician at Dartford and Gravesham NHS Trust in the UK, for providing this overview.