About Us

IDSP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

IDSP EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Without doubt infectious diseases (IDs) are the leading cause of mortality and morbidity in the developing countries. Regionally, and closer to home the pattern of ID is quite different from that seen in developed countries of the world. Yet, ironically, we use textbooks and periodicals that are based in USA or Europe. Due to sheer apathy data gathering of our own diseases has been insufficient In September 1993 a group of like-minded physicians formed the Karachi ID Society. In March 1999 the ID Society organized meetings in Lahore and Islamabad. In April 2000 new members were added at an ID meeting in Peshawar. The Society was renamed Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan (IDSP). Subsequently a meeting was held in Multan. We hope to spread ourselves to other cities in Pakistan, time and logistics permitting.

The objectives of the IDSP are to:

• Develop rapport among physicians and science graduates from diverse backgrounds in ID
• Conduct clinical trials and gather data regarding clinical, epidemiological and laboratory aspects of ID
• Conduct multi institutional studies in disease patterns, drug trials, etc
• Study preventive aspects of common IDs
• Provide guidelines for improved lab diagnosis
• Study nosocomial infection patterns
• Encourage physician dialogue over common and uncommon IDs
• Educate physicians, nurses, patients and the community about detection and prevention of communicable diseases
• Organize lectures, seminars/conferences for dissemination of information
• Publish a periodical of IDs

Many of these objectives have been met over the course of years. The IDSP represents clinicians in all disciplines of medicine as well as pathologists and microbiologists. Several surveillance and drug trials based in multi institutions took off, and some have been reported in local and international conferences and journals.

In 1994 we started a newsletter that has subsequently expanded to a quarterly Infectious Diseases Journal of Pakistan (IDJ). Articles are reviewed by at least two independent reviewers in the field of interest, and an Editorial Board oversees its quality. The journal is widely circulated and continues to give valuable information. Readers are invited to contribute articles of interest. IDSP has been holding clinical meetings in various institutions in different cities. Cases are presented and discussed by experts in the field. The IDSP functions as a think tank. Any physician, clinical or non-clinical, and any graduate of science with interest in ID may apply for membership.