Bioethics Summer Programme 2024
The Bioethics Summer Programme 2024, held from August 5th to 9th at Shifa College of Medicine, Islamabad, was a collaborative initiative by Manchester Global Foundation (MGF), the Global Ethics Learning Hub (GELH) at the Pakistan Institute of Living and Learning (PILL), Shifa College of Medicine, Tameer-e-Millat University, Yale, UCL, and the University of Manchester (UoM). The programme aimed to enhance understanding and engagement with critical bioethical issues among participants.
The programme began with welcoming remarks from Prof. Nasim Chaudhry (PILL) and Dr. Rakhshi Memon (Director MGF, GELH Chair and UCL), followed by lectures on ethical theories, war ethics, narrative transcultural psychiatry, and research ethics by speakers like Dr. Ayesha Ahmad (St. George’s University of London) and Prof. Mowadat Rana (The Healing Triad). The subsequent days included sessions on ethical decision-making, clinical trials, pandemics, end-of-life care, cross-cultural research dilemmas, and the role of ethical review boards, with notable contributions from Dr. Rupsa Banarjee, Prof. Sarah Edwards (UCL), Prof. Zainab Zadeh, and Prof. Ashraf Hussain.
Later sessions addressed global health research challenges, public health ethics, and the ethical implications of AI and mHealth technologies, featuring insights from experts like Prof. Athula Sumathipala (Keele University) and Dr. Salman Shahzad. The final day included a session on ethical policymaking by Lori Bruce (Yale), a film screening on severe mental illness, and a discussion on local research ethics challenges by Dr. Aneela Maqsood (Fatima Jinnah Women University).
The programme concluded with poster presentations, a certificate distribution ceremony, and closing remarks by Prof. Nusrat Husain, Consultant MGF, (University of Manchester), who highlighted the importance of bioethics and the need for the programme’s expansion to reach a wider audience. The event was a testament to the importance of ethical discourse in healthcare and research, reflecting the dedication of all partners involved.
