SRINAGAR: Dr M Ashraf Ganie, a Professor of Endocrinology & Metabolism and Sub-Dean Research at SKIMS Srinagar, has been nominated Chairman of the Joint Task Force instituted by the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) to conduct a study on the health issues of populations in high-altitude Sub-Himalayan regions.
Dr Ashraf is Convenor of the J&K and Ladakh chapter of NAMS and has been involved in research on non-communicable diseases among tribal populations in high-altitude areas.
He has also been a member of ICMR’s National Task Force on Universal Health Coverage among tribal populations.
The Joint Task Force involving medical experts from NAMS, AFMS & SKIMS has been tasked, by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt of India, to develop a white paper for improving interventions in the area of High-altitude medical problems.
The Task Force will identify the current status of High-altitude Medical problems, identify deficiencies that need to be addressed, and recommend measures for management of these problems.
The maiden meeting of the JTF was held through virtual mode earlier this week. The meeting was attended by Dr K K Deepak, Professor & Head, Physiology and Dean AIIMS New Delhi; Maj Gen Sandeep Thareja, Senior Consultant Medicine, AH(R&R); Brig Ajay Chandra, of General Hospital, Firozpur; Col Y Uday, Prof, Department of Medicine, AFMC Pune; Col VS Shekhawat, Senior Advisor, AH(R&R); Col Vivek Aggarwal of General Hospital, Leh, and Dr Jyoti Kotwal.
Addressing the meeting, Dr Ashraf said that hypoxia, polycythemia, lung problems, heart diseases including hypertension are increasingly recognized among inhabitants of mountainous regions.
He said serious and potentially fatal problems, such as high-altitude pulmonary edema or cerebral edema, occur in approximately 0.5 percent to 1.0 percent of visitors to elevations above 10,000 feet—especially with heavy physical exertion on arrival, such as climbing or skiing. Most health problems remain unexplored as research in this area is scarce and hence the Task Force, said Dr Ashraf.
The final report of the Task Force is scheduled to be released at the 63rd Convocation and Annual Conference of NAMS to be organized from 6th to 8th October 2023 at Ramaiah Medical College, Bengaluru.
NAMS is a nodal agency under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare which acts as an advisory body to the Government of India in matters related to National Health Policy & Planning. NAMS also promotes Continuing Medical Education (CME) for medical & health professionals.
Dr. Ashraf, currently working as Professor of Endocrinology at SKIMS Srinagar, has been working in the area of lifestyle disorders and has published research papers on the subject.
Dr Ashraf was working as Associate Professor at All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi before joining at SKIMS Soura. At SKIMS, Dr Ashraf has taken initiatives to create a vibrant research ecosystem by establishing the Department of Clinical Research, Medical Research Unit, and other similar facilities. (ENDS)