Geriatric Fellowship
Programme Introduction
Geriatrics is a medical specialty concerned with comprehensive health care of older individuals. It includes curative, preventive, promotive, and rehabilitative care and provides continuing care from the bio-psycho-social perspective. WHO defines older individuals as those who are 60 years or above.
In Pakistan there are about a handful of geriatric physicians. Geriatrics is not recognized as a specialty. Based on the increasing number of geriatric encounters, the Aga Khan University (AKU) started an outpatient clinical programme in 2008 along with undergraduate and postgraduate teaching/learning of geriatrics in 2008 and 2009 respectively. In addition, in multiple clinical departments at AKU, care providers like nursing, pharmacy, and physicians across Pakistan received training on basic geriatric concepts, illnesses, and management.
All these efforts catered to building basic geriatric concepts and not expertise in this area. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop physicians who have comprehensive training and clinical experience to cater to the specific needs of the rising number of older adults. Starting a geriatric fellowship is the appropriate step.
AKU being a pioneer of several different programmes and initiatives in Pakistan is in the best position to lead the establishment of this programme as well.
