The Virtue – Bioethics unit under UNESCO Chair Inaugurated at PIMS

The Virtue-Bioethics Unit has been established at Punjab Institute of Medical Sciences, Jalandhar as a part of International network of UNESCO Chair in Bioethics at Haifa. Dr. Raj Bahadur, Worthy Vice chancellor, Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot inaugurated the Bioethics Unit and 3T(Train, teach, transfer) workshop of ‘Integration of Bioethics in Health Sciences’. The Vice Chancellor emphasized that it has become mandatory to inculcate the ethical principles in medical practice. It is our duty to sensitize our young dootors and medical students about ethical practices, professionalism, communication skills and make them competent to act as Primary Health Care physicians who are able to recognize and resolve ethical issues in given situations.

Dr. Ved Parkash Mishra, National Head of the Academic Programme in India Under UNESCO chair, Bioethics Haifa said that a doctor should be competent, confident, concerned and compassionate. Dr. Russell D’ Souza, Head Asia Pacific division and Director ofEducation of UNESCO International Program was also present on this prestigious occasion. He gave an
overview of the Bioethics programme in India and the 3 days workshop. Dr. Kulbir Kaur, Director Principal expressed her gratitude to Vice chancellor Dr. Raj Bahadur, Dr. Ved ParKash Mishra and Dr. Russell D’Souza for providing inspiration and guidance to establish UNESCO Chair under Asia Pacific Program of Bioethics. She assured that this institution will train the faculty and students to apply bioethical principles in their daily practice to check the increasing number of conflicts and improve doctor-patient relationship. Dr. Jagminder Kaur Bajaj, Head of The Virtue- Bioethics Unit said it to be a landmark achievement in the history of PIMS.

Eminent faculty from across the country participated in the workshop on ‘Integration of Bioethics in health sciences’ for training faculty of PIMS on how to incorporate bioethics in their teaching practice and education of medical students in Bioethics. Dr. Santosh Salagre from Seth GS Medical College, Mumbai, Dr. Barna Ganguli from PS Medical College, Karamsad Anand, Dr. Sahib Kukerja, Dr. Manmeet Gill from Sri Guru Ram Das University of Health Sciences,
Amritsar, Dr. Anu Sharma from Dayanand Medical College Ludhiana & Dr. Tania Moudgil from PIMS shared their knowledge & experiences on various ethical issues faced in day to day practice. Methods used to sensitize medical students about ethical principles from the very beginning of their carrier were also discussed in detail.