KARACHI: Language is no longer a barrier for doctors taking clinical histories from patients who speak various languages, as students of Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU) have introduced a multilingual clinical history-taking handbook covering seven languages.
This initiative has made gathering clinical histories from diverse patients much easier for medical practitioners.
Developed by students under the Internal Medicine Interest Group of Sindh Medical College (IMIG-SMC), the handbook covers English, Urdu, Sindhi, Pashto, Punjabi, Balochi and Saraiki.
Available as a free digital resource, it aims to bridge the communication gap between medical students, primarily trained in English, and patients who speak regional languages.
The handbook is designed to help students better understand patients’ symptoms, facilitate clearer clinical communication and support more accurate assessments.
By making the resource freely available online, the initiative also eliminates cost and distribution barriers, enabling wider access to a practical learning resource for students interacting with patients from diverse linguistic backgrounds.
The project was completed under the supervision of Dr. Sadaf Razzaq, Associate Professor of Pathology, and Professor Dr. Ambreen Usmani, Principal of Sindh Medical College.
A key contributor to the initiative was Abdul Thawwab Ishaque, a Sri Lankan final-year MBBS student and former President of IMIG-SMC, whose efforts were instrumental in developing the handbook.
His contribution reflects how medical education and service to humanity can transcend national borders.
The launch ceremony was attended by JSMU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Amjad Siraj Memon as Chief Guest, Sri Lankan Consul General Hon. Sanjeewa Pattiwila and CPSP Director Dr. Sahar Abbasi as Guests of Honour.
“The handbook was developed with a clear vision: to bridge language barriers in clinical settings and facilitate clearer communication between medical students and patients from diverse linguistic backgrounds,” said JSMU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Amjad Siraj Memon.
Sri Lankan Consul General Hon. Sanjeewa Pattiwila appreciated Abdul Thawwab Ishaque’s contribution, stating, “Abdul Thawwab’s contribution is a proud moment for Sri Lanka. His work reminds us that the pursuit of knowledge and the service of humanity transcend national borders.”