Microsoft Word - Editorial 25,3,09


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Editorial 
 

The Role of Ophthalmological Society of 
Pakistan in Research and Development in 

Ophthalmology in Pakistan 
 
Research is a prescribed method of uncovering or 
discovering the mysteries of nature. It is therefore 
truly considered the spring of knowledge and under-
standing and the only straight road which leads to 
scientific and technological growth and development. 

The knowledge explosion that we have witnessed 
in the 20th century and is continuing over in the 21st 
century is the result of enhanced global commitment 
and improved ways and means for research and 
development. The resultant enhanced growth and 
development has benefited all sectors of knowledge 
and education including biomedical sciences, with 
tremendous positive impact on patient care and 
treatment. 

However most of the developing countries are 
watching with envy the fast growth and development 
of technologically advanced countries. They have 
failed to catch up with developed countries for the 
following interlinked reasons. 
1. Lack of vision 
2. Lack of national commitment 
3. Inability to create systems which govern research 

from the word go, formulating a research question 
and leading on to project preparation, conduct, 
completion, publication and application. 

 
The real question before us is: 
Can we do it?, if so how? 
What role can the Ophthalmological society of 
Pakistan play? 

The answer to the first question is yes, provided we 
make a firm national resolution act on the following 
ten points: 
1.  Make national commitment. 
2. Create  national vision 
3. Fix national priorities through an in depth 

consultative process. 
4. Create national structures for policy making, 

implementation, and governance including 
coordination, collaboration and audit. 

5. Create provincial and institutional bodies to 
support the national bodies. 

6. Create national and international linkages. 
7. Provide adequate and non discminatory financial 

and administrative support to public and private 
universities and institutions engaged in research. 

8. Universities and institutions committed to 
research must create an enabling environment for 
research scholars both at home, at the institute and 
in the laboratory. 

9. Research scholars must prepare smart strategies to 
answer their research questions, publish their 
research in respectable journals in the prescribed 
time period. The research scholars should also 
ensure that the research findings make a base for 
technological growth and development with 
impact on the welfare of the society. 

10. The top national research scholars must be 
generously recognized through national awards. 

 
The role of OSP in promoting national research in 
Ophthalmology and ophthalmic disorders leading to 
visual disability and /or blindness: 

OSP is committed to the following goals and 
objectives: 
1. Enhance the knowledge, skills and attitude of 

ophthalmologists and ophthalmic allied health 
personnel. 

2. Create opportunities, encourage, support and 
manage their CME and CPD activities. 

3. Create opportunities, encourage and support 
research and development in ophthalmology and 
vision sciences. 

 
In order to achieve its 3rd goal and objective, OSP 

has so far taken the following steps: 
1. It is encouraging research for residents and 

fellows in ophthalmology and vision sciences. 
2. It is extending financial support for research in 

ophthalmology and vision sciences through the 
OSP Research Foundation. 



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3. To further encourage research in ophthalmology, 
OSP has created a specific medal for excellence in 
research which is conferred on deserving scholars 
on annual basis. 

4. To support research in Ophthalmology, it has 
created a fund called OSP Research Fund. 

5. To create opportunities for exchange of research 
findings among research scholars, OSP arranges 
four or five regular regional meetings and one 
national meeting every year. To support 
publication of research articles, OSP sponsors a 
national journal of ophthalmology. 

 
To redouble its efforts in promotion of meaningful 
research in ophthalmology and vision sciences, OSP 
may seriously consider taking the following 
additional steps: 

1. The council may allow and support the formation 
of an interest group or Pakistan Association for 
Research in ophthalmology and vision sciences on 

the lines of association for research in ophthal-
mology and vision sciences (ARVO) of USA. 

2. The group membership should be open to 
members from all backgrounds related to 
ophthalmology and vision sciences. 

3. The group will need to be encouraged to create 
strong national and international linkages. 

4. The group will be expected to prepare a strategic 
plan for promotion of research in ophthalmology 
and vision sciences under the umbrella of OSP 

5. The group will be expected to prepare smart 
strategies to implement and manage the plan. 

 
It is sincerely hoped that the above road map will 

put us on a straight road to success and ophthal-
mology will set yet another trend for others to follow. 
 
 

Prof. M Daud Khan 
Peshawar