Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Government Medical College Srinagar, organised a one-day Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme titled “Antepartum Surveillance – Low Stakes, High Yields” on 12th May 2026

The Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Government Medical College Srinagar, organised a one-day Continuing Medical Education (CME) programme titled “Antepartum Surveillance – Low Stakes, High Yields” on 12th May 2026 at Government LD Hospital Srinagar.

The CME, organised by Unit IV of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, GMC Srinagar, focused on recent advances and evidence-based updates in antepartum surveillance, which includes antenatal and intrapartum fetal monitoring strategies aimed at reducing stillbirths, perinatal morbidity, and adverse neonatal outcomes. The programme highlighted the growing importance of risk stratification, timely fetal assessment, and multidisciplinary interventions in high-risk pregnancies.

Prof (Dr) Iffat Hassan Shah attended the programme as Chief Guest and emphasised the importance of strengthening maternal and fetal surveillance systems in tertiary care hospitals. Speaking on the occasion, he highlighted the role of structured fetal monitoring protocols, timely referrals, and standardised obstetric practices in improving maternal and neonatal indicators. He stressed the need for integrating technology-driven surveillance modalities with clinical expertise to reduce preventable perinatal complications and stillbirths.

Prof (Dr) Shahnaz Taing, Guest of Honour, appreciated the academic relevance of the CME and underscored the importance of continuous professional training in modern obstetric care. She spoke about the evolving role of fetal medicine, antenatal risk assessment, and evidence-based labour room practices in improving perinatal outcomes. She also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration between obstetricians, radiologists, geneticists, neonatologists, and anesthetists in the management of complicated pregnancies.

Prof (Dr) Syed Masuma Rizvi, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, GMC Srinagar, encouraged postgraduate scholars and registrars to implement the latest evidence-based recommendations in routine clinical practice. She stated that with a clinical burden of nearly 1000 outpatients and more than 100 daily admissions, there is a pressing need for systematic antenatal surveillance and protocol-based intrapartum monitoring. She further emphasised the importance of early detection of fetal compromise, judicious interpretation of fetal surveillance tests, and timely obstetric interventions to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.

The organising team led by Prof (Dr) Ambreen Qureshi and Dr Sabahat Rasool was widely appreciated for selecting a clinically significant and multidisciplinary topic of immense public health importance. Postgraduate scholars also presented original research papers and scientific posters during the CME, contributing to academic discussions and knowledge sharing in the field of maternal and fetal medicine.

The CME concluded with an interactive case-based panel discussion on antepartum surveillance conducted by Dr Sabahat Rasool, Associate Professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, GMC Srinagar, where challenging clinical scenarios and practical approaches to fetal surveillance were discussed in detail.

The CME featured a multidisciplinary panel of experts from various specialties. Prof (Dr) Tamkin Khan, former Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Aligarh Muslim University, delivered a detailed keynote address on the use and interpretation of Cardiotocography (CTG) during labour, with emphasis on fetal heart rate variability, decelerations, and evidence-based management of abnormal CTG patterns.

Prof (Dr) Farooq Mir, Head of the Department of Radiology at SKIMS Medical College, delivered an expert lecture on fetal Doppler studies and their utility in identifying placental insufficiency, fetal growth restriction, and compromised fetal circulation. Dr Hakeem Ajaz from GMC Srinagar deliberated on the role of first and second trimester ultrasonography in early fetal anomaly detection, dating scans, and risk assessment.

Dr Mubashir Hassan Shah discussed critical peripartum interventions for prevention of stillbirths and optimisation of neonatal outcomes, highlighting the importance of timely induction, intrapartum monitoring, neonatal preparedness, and multidisciplinary obstetric care.

The post-lunch academic session included a lecture on antenatal genetic testing by Dr Arshad Ahmed Pandit, Head of the Department of Genetics at SKIMS Soura, who discussed current advances in prenatal screening, chromosomal abnormality detection, and genetic counselling in high-risk pregnancies

The event was attended by Gulzar Ahmad (JKAS) Administrator of Associated Hospitals of GMC Srinagar and Medical Superintendent Dr Muzaffar Jan, along with senior faculty members, postgraduate scholars, registrars, consultants, and leading obstetricians of the Valley. Former Heads of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, including Prof Farhat Jabeen, Prof Nighat Firdous, and Prof Rizwana Habib, were also present on the occasion.