LAHORE: The Children`s Hospital and Institute of Child Health has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow, for diagnosis and treatment of patients with `unmanageable complications`.

Under the arrangement, the patients brought to the Children`s Hospital with complications in neurology, cancer, cardiology and hereditarydiseases would be able to get a `second opinion` from international medics for exact diagnosis and treatment.

Both sides will also set up latest tele video link equipment to share CT scan, MRI reports, x-ray and blood tests of patients to seek expertise of specialists concerned.

This agreement was signed at the Royal Hospital for Children, Glasgow by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde chairman John Brown and Children`s Hospital and Institute of Child Health Dean Prof Masood Sadiq.

`An important feature of this collaboration between two specialised healthcare facilities is that the Children`s Hospital would also be able to dispatch blood samples of critical patients to the Royal Hospital for tests,` Prof Sadiq told Dawn on Wednesday.Terming it a major initiative, he said tests for many diseases were not available in Pakistan.

Consequently, local medics were facing difficulties in the treatment of seriously ill patients.

Now for the first time, child patients would be able to get standardised diagnosis from abroad for proper treatment of complicated diseases.

`Back in 2001, the Royal Hospital for Sick Hospital in Yorkhill began a partnership programme with the Children`s Hospital to exchange knowledge and expertise. Since then, the two hospitals have enjoyed a rich collaboration, working together on projects, staff exchanges, learning and education,` he said.

There have been eight delegations of doctors, nurses and paraprofessionals who have come to Lahore. Similarly, 20 doctors, nurses and allied health professionals have gone to Glasgow for spe-cialised training since this relationship was established.

Prof Sadiq said the new collaboration was made in three areas exchange of doctors, technology and research activities. Three senior doctors from Children`s Hospital were scheduled to go to the Royal Hospital next month as its admin had accorded approval in this regard. They include Professor of Paediatric Surgery Dr Nabila Talat, associate professor of ENT Dr Imran Saeed and senior doctor from paediatric gynae Dr Ghazal Moeen.

`We at the Children`s Hospital and Institute of Child Health Lahore consider this a good time to renew this... relationship and give it a necessary stimulus. We believe that the rich and vast pool of clinical material could be amajor source of exposure and clinical experience for trainees, nurses and even consultants,` Prof Sadiq said.

He said there were massive collaborative research prospects in areas such as endocrinology, gastroenterology, metabolic and congenital disorders where access to specialised investigations through a mutual arrangement could lead to major breakthroughs.

Talking about the significance of the activity, he said in addition to the key medical and administrative staff of Greater Glasgow and Clyde health board and Royal Hospital for Children Glasgow, the Lord Provost Glasgow Sadie Docherty, Scottish transport minister HamzaYousaf, and Pakistani Consul General to Scotland Muhammad Rumman Ahmed attended the ceremony.