Dow University of Health Sciences

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Dow Medical College is one of the most respected medical college and one of the oldest education institutions of Pakistan. Every year thousands of Pre-Medical students from Karachi and many other parts of Pakistan apply to Dow Medical College to pursue graduate medical education. The college has produced a large number of well-trained physicians, who are now spread all over the world, establishing themselves as authorities in different areas of medicine. Until 2003, Dow Medical College was an affiliate institution of the University of Karachi. The adminsitrators and faculty as well as influential alumni of the college as well as sister institutions (Sind Medical College and Ojha Insitute of Chest Diseases) had been trying, for several years, to have the provincial government merge these institutions and create a health sciences university. This effort finally succeeded in 2003 and the college and its sister institutes now enjoy full university charter, together known as the Dow University of Health Sciences.

[edit] History

Before independence, in 1941, the Indian Medical Council, in order to introduce a uniform standard of medical education, abolished substandard schools, and raised many others to a university level. Through the untiring efforts of Dr. Holmisted, the medical school at Hyderabad was granted a status of a degree college in 1941, by the government of Sind. This was formally inaugurated by sir Francis Moody, Sindh’s First Governor, after its separation from Bombay presidency. That same year, the government of Sind appointed a committee to implement this decision, and to explore the feasibility of moving this medical school from Hyderabad to Karachi.

In 1943, this committee which consisted of: Dr. Hermends R. Wadhwani, the then Minister of Public Health; Col. J. E. gray, the then Inspector General of civil hospitals; and Mr. Abhichand, the then Executive Engineer, developed the plans for the Dow Medical College. Major ( Later Lt. Col. ) Aziz K. M. Khan continued this project during the absence of Col. Gray. The college was inaugurated by Governor Maudie of Sind in Hyderabad in 1945. The first batch of the admitted students consisted of forty-five students among which there was a Muslim girl student named Ms. Fahmida Shaikh.

In 1944, the University of Bombay granted a temporaray affiliation, which was later withdrawn on the recommendation of a three member committee consisting of Dr. Molgonkar, Dr. Yodh and Col. Jalal M. Shah. However, this committee recommended moving this institution to Karachi and later the affiliation to University of Bombay was restored for the years 1945 and 1946.

The foundation stone of the new building was laid in Karachi on December 10, 1945 by Sir Hugh Dow, the then Governor of Sind, after whom this medical college was named. The medical college was transferred from Hyderabad to Karachi on December 31, 1945. It was temporarily housed in the N.J.V. High School building. Dow Medical College started functioning in the new building in the November of 1946. In the December of 1946, Bombay University's team of inspectors recommended to continue its affiliation for the pre-clinical years and a conditional affiliation for the clinical subjects.

In 1947, when Pakistan gained its independence, Dow Medical College came under University of Sind's jurisdiction. A new committee was appointed by the University of Sind. It visited the institution on December 22nd 1947 and recommended full affiliation. It remained under Government of Sind until the central government took over on July 8, 1951. Pakistan Medical and Dental Council gave its recognition to the college in 1953. On March 7, 1962, it came under the jurisdiction of West Pakistan Government. With the dissolution of "One Unit", Sind Government assumed its control again on June 30, 1970. In 1953, the Student Union was established. The Student Union published its first magazine in 1950 which was later named "DOWLITE" in 1951.

In 1961, the College Mosque was built. In 1968 Arag Auditorium was built with the efforts of Surgeon A. Rahim. In 1973, the Main Auditorium, the new medical library and common room building were established. The Main Auditorium was later named after Prof. Khawaja Moin. The last major addition to Dow medical College was the "Hygiene Block" building in 1981.

In years spannning from 1997-1999, a major project of modernization of the college was undertaken. The whole library system was renovated with the addition of the latest audio-visual equipments, computers and multimedia learning resources for the medical students.

The Dow Medical College now known as Dow University of Medical Sciences was upgraded to University status on Dec 27, 2003. Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad Khan has promulgated the ordinance pertaining to establishment of Dow University of Medical and Health Sciences in the city. The first public sector medical university in the city would initially comprise Dow Medical College, Sindh Medical College and Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases as constituent academic units.

The first vice-chancellor of newly established Dow University of Medical and Health Sciences, Dr Masood Hameed Khan, assumed responsibilities of new office on Jan 14, 2004.

The chancellor of the public sector varsities in the province, Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ibad, had promulgated the ordinance pertaining to the second public sector medical university on Dec 27, 2003 while Dr Hameed was named as vice- chancellor of the university on Jan 3, 2004.

The Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) is working on a plan for the development of a number of institutes for postgraduate studies at its Ojha Institute of Chest Diseases and Sindh Medical College campuses.

The university currently has two undergraduate colleges, the Dow Medical College (DMC) and the Sindh Medical College (SMC), and one postgraduate medical institute. The DUHS Karachi Act was passed by the provincial assembly this year keeping in view the growth and development of Karachi and importance of postgraduate studies in health sciences. The Dow Medical College remains the premier medical college of the DUHS, attracting the best students from Karachi and rest of Pakistan.

On its Dow Medical College campus, the university has already started construction of buildings for administrative and examination offices.

At the Ojha institute, nearly 150-acre land is available, where a 500-bed hospital and a college will be established. The Institute of Basic Sciences; the Institute of Postgraduate Studies, the Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation; and the Institute of Medical Technology will also be set up on the Ojha campus.

At the SMC (Sind Medical College) premises, an institute of dental medicine and an institute of bio-medical engineering has been set up. Both the institutes would likely to cost around Rs118 million.

Most recently Dow University of Health Sciences has intiated a program to establish a visiting faculty. The purpose is to incorporate the expertise of foreign trained physician who has been training medical graduate outside Pakistan in the courses being taught at the university.

Most of the physicians from Pakistan who have graduated from Dow Medical College are working in the US and the UK.