Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 21: The Society of Fetal Medicine in collaboration with the Departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Department of Paediatrics SMGS Hospital, Government Medical College Jammu, today conducted Continuing Medical Education (CME).
The event witnessed a robust turnout of nearly 300 registered delegates, including Radiologists, Gynecologists, Pediatricians and Postgraduate trainees from across Jammu & Kashmir and neighboring regions.
The CME themed “Prenatal Diagnostic & Therapeutic Fetal Interventions: An Update,” focused on the growing relevance of prenatal genetic testing and fetal interventions in improving pregnancy outcomes and reducing neonatal mortality and morbidity.
Delivering the inaugural address, Dr Ashutosh Gupta, Principal & Dean, GMC Jammu, emphasized the transformative impact of early genetic screening in identifying congenital anomalies and guiding timely interventions. He commended SMGS Hospital’s Genetic Center for offering a full range of non-invasive and invasive prenatal diagnostic services and prenatal therapeutic interventions.
The scientific sessions were chaired by eminent national faculty including Dr Ashok Khurana, India’s leading expert in fetal ultrasound and Dr K Aparna Sharma, Additional Professor & Unit Head of Fetal Medicine at AIIMS New Delhi. Other distinguished speakers included Dr Sanjeev K Digra, Dr Arshad Bhat, Dr Rashmi Sharma and Dr Neha Mahajan.
The event was conducted under the leadership of Organizing Chairperson Dr Reema Khajuria and Dr Sanjeev Digra and CME Coordinator Dr Dara Singh. Dr Arshad Bhat was the Organizing Secretary.
On the occasion, Dr Arshad Bhat, Consultant Radiologist & Fetal Medicine Consultant In charge Genetic Center SMGS Hospital, presented progress report of Genetic Clinic and said that before the establishment of this clinic, expectant mothers requiring advanced fetal diagnostic & therapeutic interventions had to undertake long and expensive journeys to far-off centers such as AIIMS New Delhi, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi, or PGI Chandigarh. “This not only posed a financial burden but also exposed these high-risk pregnancies to the stress of travel & post procedure risk of miscarriages during their critical stages of gestation”, he added.
However, since the inception of Genetic Clinic at SMGS Hospital more than 503 invasive prenatal procedures all under strict ultrasound guidance have been performed.
“The outcomes of these procedures have been encouraging. Not only have we been able to offer accurate chromosomal diagnoses but also have provided targeted genetic counseling to couples based on these findings”, he further said, adding “this clinic is catering to referred cases from other medical colleges & district hospitals across the UT of Jammu & Kashmir, UT of Ladakh & other adjoining states like Punjab & Himachal Pradesh”.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
