Indus Hospital & Health Network (IHHN) concluded its seventh biennial multidisciplinary conference, ICON 2024, with a closing ceremony held at Movenpick Hotel, Karachi on Sunday, January 28, 2024.
ICON 2024, spanning across Sindh and Punjab, served as a crucial platform for healthcare visionaries and experts to unite, sharing the latest advances in medical research and practice. The closing ceremony marked the culmination of scientific sessions and plenary discussions held in Lahore, Muzaffargarh, Badin, and Karachi, from January 27-28, 2024, attended by a prominent gathering of the medical community from Pakistan and beyond.
The event was well-attended by the medical community of Karachi and surrounding regions. Mr. Prem Bahadur Chand, Chief Field Officer, UNICEF – Karachi, graced the occasion as chief guest. Dr. Sama Muktar and Dr. Asif Qazi welcomed attendees, providing insights into the scale and impact of ICON 2024.
ICON 2024, themed ‘Game Changing Solutions in Healthcare,’ aimed to contribute to making Pakistan a healthier nation. Drawing over 2,787 participants, ICON 2024 facilitated powerful academic discourse through 80 professional workshops and 50 scientific sessions with interactive plenary discussions. The conference featured more than 220 distinguished speakers who shared their expertise with a diverse audience comprising healthcare professionals, medical students, and health & allied partners.
Dr. Saima Ali, Chair of ICON 2024 and Head of Department – Emergency Services, IHHN, commended the conference’s hardworking team, “I am delighted with the success of this first ever pan-national conference! So many people have worked hard and from every quarter of Indus Hospital and Health Network, I want to acknowledge all their efforts”. The sessions showcased distinguished speakers renowned for their expertise, bringing together clinical, administrative, and teaching faculties, alongside influential figures from healthcare.
Dr. Ashar Alam, Medical Director, IHHN, emphasized the significance of events like ICON 2024 in strengthening Pakistan’s healthcare sector. He stated, “ICON24 stands out as a first-of-its kind event in Pakistan. Combining our efforts across Lahore, Muzaffargarh and Lahore, as well as Badin and Multan, we have been able to share our successes at Indus Hospital and Health Network. We will also be able make new connections within the medical and allied health fraternity, strengthen collaborations and ultimately improve the health of the people of Pakistan.”
Mr. Abdul Karim Paracha, Chairman, Board of Directors, IHHN, went on to describe how ICON 2024 also represents IHHN’s commitment to making a positive difference in communities. “Indus Hospital and Health Network continues to go from strength to strength. ICON24 is the culmination of its best asset, that is, a nationwide group of passionate people who push their standards higher and want to make a difference in their communities.”
To honor the valuable contributions to IHHN and ICON 2024, ceremonial shields were presented to chief guests, ICON 2024 sponsors, and faculty. Dr. Zafar Zaidi, CEO, IHHN, delivered closing remarks, emphasizing the event’s core of bringing people together to enhance health outcomes. “In 2012, ICON started out as a handful of sessions and workshops that were conducted in a single day. Today, it’s a national event! At the heart of this event is bringing people together, learning from each other, and breaking boundaries in health and all related fields to improve health outcomes for all.”
For more information about ICON 2024, including scientific sessions, interactive plenary discussions, and professionally accredited workshops, visit the ICON website: ICON 2024 | Game Changing Solutions in Healthcare – (indushospital.org.pk)