PIMS was envisaged as the premier tertiary care medical centre in Pakistan. Department of Pulmonology was established in1986. Its component includes an outpatient department, indoor with 20 beds, Bronchoscopy suit and a computer room for research and academic activities. The department was recognized for postgraduate training in pulmonology in 1994.
Pulmonology at PIMS has always been an acute and busy department providing comprehensive and modern treatment to all respiratory illnesses. It is a regional tertiary care centre, catering to health needs of respiratory patients living in and around Islamabad capital territory, northern Punjab, KPK, AJK and Gilgit Baltistan. Due to tremendous increase in the number of pollen affected patients, we have an established Pollen Allergy centre in our emergency/OPD clinic which caters 10-15% population of Islamabad in pollen allergy season i.e. 100,000 to 150,000. Tuberculosis is a major challenge to health care provider in Pakistan. TB DOTS programme in collaboration with National TB Program (NTB) is offering diagnostic and treatment services free of cost to TB patients since 2007 and about 1000-1200 patients are enrolled every year. Since November 2013 we have well established MDR-TB centre at our board, fully staffed separately by NTB, offering best possible services to such kind of patients free of cost.
Department is comprised of 20 beds in General ward and 4 isolation beds for open and MDR-TB patients. If number of patients increases, then they are kept in other medical wards. The critically ill-patients and those requiring mechanical ventilation are admitted in MICU/SICU under the supervision of pulmonology. Outpatients department (OPD) has a daily turn out of around 200-250patients while the accident and emergency department is equally busy.
The Pulmonology department is fully equipped with diagnostic Lab and we are performing diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopies round the week. Facilities of endobronchial biopsies,CT guidedbiopsies, Pleural biopsies and transthorasic biopsies are also available. Pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gas analysis are regularly performed. Department is in process of upgrading its diagnostic facilities.
Academically, department is actively engaged in imparting training in the field of pulmonology to post-graduate students of pulmonology and general medicine as well as house officers. We have an extensive teaching program in the form of detailed ward round and daily morning meeting of one hour and we regularly conduct weekly MDM (multi disciplinary meeting) with Radiology, Pathology and Oncology. Our department is accredited by CPSP and is having students in FCPS and MCPS discipline. MD (pulmonology) programmeis going to start soon under SZABMU.
Prevention of diseases is the best management option and department is actively working towards this goal by Lectures for public awareness, conducting monthly meeting for outpatients, by electronic and print media. Promotion of respiratory health through prevention, detection, treatment and educational efforts remains our main objective.
