Khyber Medical University (KMU) Peshawar in collaboration with Khyber Medical College (KMC) Peshawar has launched a two-year Post Graduate Diploma in Psychiatry (DPM). In this regard, a launching ceremony was held in KMC Peshawar in which vice-chancellor KMU Prof. Dr. Zia ul Haq was the chief guest while on this occasion Dean KMC Prof. Dr. Mahmud Aurangzeb, former principal of KMC and internationally known Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Khalid Mufti, faculty and students were also present. Addressing the event, Prof. Dr. Zia ul Haq said that psychiatry has always been a neglected field, although its importance is much higher than other fields considering the immense social and economic problems in society. He said psychologists need to glamorize this field. He said that the responsibilities of psychologists have increased in the problems that our society is facing today.
Prof. Dr. Zia ul Haq said that seeing the growing despair and hopelessness in the society, we have to promote the feelings of tolerance and patience in the society and psychologists can play an important role in this regard. He hoped that the two-year Diploma in Psychiatry program jointly launched by KMU and KMC would not only help in overcoming the problem of shortage of psychiatrists in the province but also help in solving the psychological problems faced by the society. Earlier, Dean KMC Prof. Dr. Mahmud Aurangzeb said that the importance of psychiatry has increased in light of the complex problems facing the country. He hoped that the introduction of this diploma course would also help in overcoming the problem of a shortage of psychologists in the province, especially in remote areas.
Director of the course Prof. Dr. Bashir Ahmad, while presenting various data related to psychological problems, said that according to the Royal College of Psychiatry, it is necessary to have one psychologist for every 12,000 population, while in Pakistan there is one specialist for every 360,000 population. He said that on one side this diploma program will help in the preparation of a comprehensive workforce in the field of mental health, on the other hand, as a result of this course; the people of the remote areas of the province will receive psychologists at their doorstep. He said that only medical doctors will be eligible for admission in this program and this course will cover two years while its assessment will be done on 50% MCQs and 50% SEQs papers on a semi-annual basis, the passing marks will consist of 60% marks.