VC announces launch of degree programme in paramedicine
LAHORE: (UrduPoint/Pakistan Point News-Nov 24th, 2025) A three-member delegation from the Health Service Executive, National Ambulance Service College, Ireland, began their visit on Monday to the University of Health Sciences (UHS) to evaluate the international-standard life-saving skills training being conducted across Punjab. The delegation is led by Prof. Dr. Shane Knox, Director of Paramedicine and Adjunct Clinical Professor, University College Cork.
He is accompanied by Mr. Desmond Wade, Regional Education and Competency Assurance Officer (Advanced Paramedic) and Assistant Professor, and Mr. Padraig Glynn, Practice Development Lead – Urgent Care & Community Paramedicine and Assistant Professor, University College Cork, Ireland
The delegation held a meeting with the UHS Vice Chancellor, Prof. Ahsan Waheed Rathore, and faculty heads to review the quality assurance of key life-saving training modules including cardiac care, trauma management, neonatal resuscitation and emergency obstetric care. During the meeting, UHS VC announced the launch of a BS degree in Paramedicine and short-term certified courses for doctors, paramedics and healthcare professionals, all aligned with international standards.
UHS has maintained over a decade-long strategic partnership with the Irish National Ambulance Service College, Dublin, and has trained over 50,000 healthcare professionals since 2017. From 2022 to 2025, essential life-saving training was delivered in 85 THQ hospitals, while earlier programmes covered 25 DHQ and 15 THQ hospitals under a service agreement with the health department.
Between July and October 2025, UHS conducted 65 workshops across 44 medical colleges, training 1,011 participants including 517 providers and 494 instructors. Trauma, neonatal and obstetric emergency modules achieved near-complete coverage, while minor gaps remained in instructor-level training for CFR/BLS and triage modules. The simulation-based, train-the-trainer model strengthened emergency response capacity and laid the ground for future recertification cycles.
The delegation later visited DHQ Hospital Sheikhupura as part of the ongoing initiative of UHS and the Project Management Unit (PMU), Health and Population Department. They were accompanied by Prof. Dr. Sarah Ghafoor, Director Professional Skill Development Centre, Dr. Lamia Yousaf, Director Medical Education, and Dr. Midhat Suleman, Director International Linkages.
The team evaluated the Cardiac First Response/Basic Life Support (CFR/BLS) workshop being conducted by UHS master trainers for doctors, consultants and nurses of the hospital. Prof. Shane Knox expressed satisfaction over the quality of instruction and skill-based training, and personally demonstrated airway management techniques to participants. He stressed the importance of initiating cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) even outside hospital settings when equipment is not immediately available.
Quality assurance officer Mr. Padraig Glynn praised UHS and the Professional Skill Development Centre for using high-standard simulation equipment, enabling realistic training for emergency scenarios.
Prof. Sarah Ghafoor outlined the quality assurance framework, Dr. Lamia detailed the instructor training across 44 medical colleges, while Dr. Midhat highlighted UHS’s expanding international collaborations in emergency care education.
The three-day visit is expected to strengthen academic and clinical cooperation between Pakistan and Ireland and further uplift emergency care standards across Punjab.
