Mysore/Mysuru: The Department of Social Work, Pooja Bhagavat Memorial Mahajana Education Centre (PBMMEC), PG Wing of SBRR Mahajana First Grade College, KRS Road, Mysuru and Pradipta Kadambari, Senator, Purbanchal University & Principal, Kadambari Memorial College of Science and Management (KMC), Kathmandu, Nepal, had jointly organised a three-day International Webinar on ‘Medical and Psychiatric Social Work Practice in Expanding Healthcare System’ from Aug. 10 to 12.

Dr. C.K. Renukarya, Director of PBMMEC inaugurated; Pradipta Kadambari, KMC, gave the concept note and the keynote address was given by Dr. John Drayton from the University of Queensland, Australia, on ‘A Psychosocial Perspective on Multidimensional Healthcare.’

Dr. Suman K. Murthy, PBMMEC, spoke on the impact of illness on the individual, family and community and the role of medical and psychiatric social workers. Dr. Rajaram Subbian, Psychosocial Consultant and Executive Director, Basic Needs India, Bengaluru, enlightened the participants on the psychosocial perspective of coping with trauma and disaster.

Dr. Priya Treesa Thomas from NIMHANS, Bengaluru, spoke extensively on ‘Medical and Psychiatric Social Work Practice in Psychiatry, Neurology and Emergency Medicine.’ Dr. Manjusha Warrier from Christ (Deemed to be University), threw light on ‘Medical and Psychiatric Social Work Practice in Rehabilitation and Palliative Care.’

Dr. Sonia Pereira Deuri, LGB Regional Institute of Mental Health, Tezpur, Assam, educated the participants on ‘Medical and Psychiatric Social Work Practice in Institutions, NGOs and Community.’

On the final day, a panel discussion on ‘Medical and Psychiatric Social Work: Challenges and Prospects’ was held. Pradipta Kadambari, Dr. Saugat Poudyal, Consultant Oncologist, Bir Hospital, Nepal; Dr. Eliza Pereira, St. John’s Medical College Hospital, Bengaluru and Dr. Prakashi Rajaram,                                   retd. Professor, NIMHANS, Bengaluru, shared their views and deliberated on the need for medical and psychiatric social worker, an important member of multidisciplinary healthcare team in India and Nepal. The panellists also discussed on how to establish the Department in Hospitals. The session was moderated by Dr. Patricia N.M. Viego, Assistant Professor and HoD, PBMMEC.