Srinagar, October 18, 2024:
The 4th Annual Conference of the Addiction Psychiatry Society of India was inaugurated today at SKIMS Medical College, organized by the Department of Psychiatry (Advanced Centre for Mental Health and Addiction Medicine).
Professor Mohd Ashraf Ganie, Director of SKIMS Soura and Ex-Officio Secretary to the Government of J&K, inaugurated the conference and the psychiatry society’s magazine. He congratulated the Department of Psychiatry for organizing the event and highlighted the growing challenge of addiction, affecting individuals and communities alike. He expressed pride that this was the fourth annual conference hosted by SKIMS, despite the possibility of it being held elsewhere in India. He emphasized the importance of such conferences for sharing knowledge, advancing treatment, and shaping future care, hoping that the discussions would lead to innovative strategies benefiting patients and society.
The conference aimed to address the increasing prevalence of drug addiction. Dr. Abdul Majid, Professor and Head of Psychiatry at SKIMS Medical College Bemina, and organizing chairman, highlighted the relevance of the year’s theme, “Nature to Nurture: Preventing Relapse and Maintaining Recovery.” He emphasized the challenges faced by many patients in adhering to treatment, including individual behavior, lack of social or family support, clinical challenges, and systemic barriers.
Dr. Shariq Rashid Masoodi, Dean of the Medical Faculty SKIMS, congratulated the Department of Psychiatry for organizing the successful conference. He echoed the importance of addressing the growing challenge of addiction and highlighted the conference’s role in sharing knowledge, advancing treatment, and shaping future care.
Dr. Iffat Hassan Shah, Principal/Dean of Government Medical College Srinagar, was the Guest of Honor. Special guests included Dr. P.K. Dalal, Dr. Aijaz Ahmad Rather, Registrar of SKIMS Medical College, Dr. Atul Ambekar, Professor of Psychiatry (Secretary General of APSI), and Prof. Mohammad Maqbool, Head of Psychiatry at IMHANS. The speakers emphasized the need for research in addiction and collaboration among various stakeholders.
The inauguration was followed by a panel discussion featuring experts from different fields, including Mr. Lateef U Zamaan Deva, IAS, former Chairman of the PSC, Dr. Seema Naz, Director of the College of Education, Dr. Yasir Hassan Rather, Professor of Psychiatry, Dr. Tahir Magray, Revenue Attorney from the Divisional Administration, and Mr. Mohammad Shafi, JKPS, Additional SP Police Crime Branch.
Senior faculty from PGIMER Prof Debashish Basu, Prof Sandeep Grover, Prof Subodh BN, Dr Swapanjeet Sahoo, Dr Shalini NaikFrom AIIMS DelhiProf Atul Ambekar, Prof Siddarath Sarkar, Prof Ravindra Rao, Dr Alok Aggrawal, Dr Shalini Naik, From NIMHANS Bangalore , Dr Arun Kandasamy, Prof of Psychiatry and HOD Addiction Medicine Prof P K Dalal, prof and former HOD Psychiatry KGMU Lucknow & other senior faculty members from various institutions & Shri Dinesh Bodh, commissioner Narcotics Control, Govt of India were present on the occasion.
Over the next few days, the conference will delve into this complex issue through symposia, invited lectures, workshops, and free paper presentations by faculty and delegates from reputed institutions like NIMHANS Bangalore, PGI Chandigarh, and AIIMS New Delhi. These discussions will enhance our understanding of the problem and benefit patients, families, and society.
Issued through PR Office SKIMS