SAARC Region Anaesthesiology meeting held in Colombo

The 12th SAARC Associations of Anaesthesiology meeting will be hosted and conducted by the College of Anaesthesiologists and Intensivists of Sri Lanka in Colombo. This would be held in combination with the 33rd Annual Academic Congress of the college.

It has been 25 years since the establishment of SAARC AA, and presently all the SAARC country associations of anaesthesiology are members of it. 

The theme of the meeting would be ‘Improving Outcome after Anaesthesia and Critical Care in the SAARC Region’. The working theme and agenda of the College of Anaesthesiologists and Intensivists of Sri Lanka is ‘Improving outcome through safety and knowledge’. Several pre congress workshops were held on 22 and 23 February, which were conducted by international faculty. 

The ceremonial inauguration will be on 24 February, at the Nelum Pokuna Theatre and will be graced by President Maithripala Sirisena’s presence. Other special guests attending the event will be Minister of Health Dr. Rajitha Senaratne including guests of honour Dr. William Harrop Griffiths representing the Royal College of Anaesthetists of the UK and Dr. Jannicke Mellin-Olsen, the President of the World federation of societies of anaesthesiologists.

The meeting will be attended by the Presidents of the SAARC associations of anaesthesiologists with over  80 international and SAARC region speakers and researchers delivering lectures, making this probably the largest ever faculty at a SAARC  anaesthesiology meeting. Over 200 foreign delegates will be participating in the summit. The World Federation of Societies of Anaesthesiologists has offered scholarships for delegates to participate at the conference. 

A comprehensive academic program is planned covering all aspects of anaesthesia and critical care with symposia on safety issues in the SAARC region and a world federation of societies symposium on safety and quality also taking place. The meeting will address a matter of global concern at present, the provision of safe anaesthesia and thereby improving outcome after anaesthesia and critical care. The Royal College of Anaesthesiologists has awarded 12 CME points for delegates attending the meeting, giving it international recognition and the Sri Lanka Medical Association too has awarded CME points for the same.

The conference is hosted and organised by the College of Anaesthesiologists and Intensivists of Sri Lanka with its President Dr. Kanishka Indraratna being the chairman of the organising committee. The official host of the summit is Jetwing Colombo Seven and the event partner – Jetwing Events.