7th Undergraduate Research Symposium - 2025
The Faculty of Allied Health Sciences proudly presents the seventh Undergraduate Research Symposium (URS), advocate for the research excellence of the undergraduate students. URS of the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, University of Jaffna is held annually since 2019 jointly with the Faculty of Medicine. Last two years Faculty of Allied Health science organized URS individually. The main aim of the Undergraduate research symposium is to provide a platform for the undergraduates of Medical Laboratory Sciences, Nursing, and Pharmacy to disseminate their findings, develop presentation skills and to inculcate the culture of research. This is the 7th Undergraduate Research Symposium (7th URS-2025) which will be conducted solely by FAHS under the theme of “Step up for better health through research” exclusively for 14th and 15th Batches.
Please click here to download the proceeding of the URS – 2025
The 7th Undergraduate Research Symposium 2025 is organized by the Faculty of Allied Health Sciences (FAHS), University of Jaffna, under the theme of ‘Better Health Through Research”. This symposium provides platforms for undergraduates of the FAHS to present their undergraduate research projects to the scientific community and gain experience. There were 21 abstracts from the AHS students, among which 06 were from Medical Laboratory Sciences, 10 were from Nursing, and 05 were from Pharmacy, submitted to this symposium. All the abstracts were subjected to a blind review process by experts in relevant fields, and according to their comments, they were revised before acceptance to the symposium.
The editorial team would like to thank the authors who have submitted their research to this symposium, as well as the internal and external reviewers who contributed to the vigorous review of the abstracts. Furthermore, as an editor, I would like to express to everyone who gave their insightful comments and suggestions to bring these symposium proceedings to the scientific standard.
Mr.S.Thuvaragan
Editor, 7th Undergraduate Research Symposium,
Department of Pharmacy,
Faculty of Allied Health Sciences,
University of Jaffna.
Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): A Critical Global Health Challenge
Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most urgent global health challenges, demanding coordinated and sustained action across healthcare systems. This talk will explore AMR from both a global perspective and within the Sri Lankan context, underscoring its growing threat to effective treatment and public health.
Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) will be introduced as a collaborative, multi-professional strategy to combat AMR, with a particular focus on the pivotal role of pharmacists. Drawing on Sri Lankan studies, the session will illustrate how establishing AMS programmes—integrated with clinical pharmacy services— offers a practical pathway to reducing inappropriate antibiotic use. It will highlight national initiatives to strengthen AMS capacity, ensure responsible access to antibiotics, and align stewardship practices across hospital and community care. Participants will gain insight into how clinical pharmacists can drive stewardship efforts, improve patient outcomes, and bridge the gap between policy and practice in resource-limited settings.
Prof.M.H.F.Sakeena
Keynote Speech, 7th Undergraduate Research Symposium,
Department of Pharmacy,
Faculty of Allied Health Sciences,
University of Peradeniya.
Shaping the Future of Allied Health through Research, Innovation, and Policy Impact
The plenary address explored the evolving role of Allied Health professionals in strengthening Sri Lanka’s healthcare system through the synergy of research, innovation, and policy reform. Globally, Allied Health workers deliver over half of all healthcare services, compared to 10–15% by doctors. Evidence from international systems demonstrates their transformative potential: pharmacist-led medication reviews reduce prescribing errors by up to 71%, physiotherapy-led rehabilitation shortens recovery and decreases hospital readmissions, and radiographer-led screening enables earlier diagnosis of chronic diseases, improving survival outcomes.
Aligned with the World Health Organization’s goals of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the address underscored that Allied Health professionals are essential to equitable, efficient, and people-centred healthcare systems. Yet, their roles remain underrecognised in health planning and policy across low- and middle-income countries, including Sri Lanka.
In Sri Lanka, the system remains heavily dependent on Allied Health professionals due to persistent workforce shortages due to many reasons including staff migration to foreign countries and uneven distribution of medical personnel. Under these conditions, Allied Health professionals such as nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, medical laboratory scientists, and radiographers assume extended responsibilities in diagnostics, prevention, and patient management, ensuring service continuity where physician access is limited.
The growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), with hypertension affecting 28% under JNC7 and over 50% under ACC/AHA definitions, and diabetes prevalence reaching 28–36% in the Western Province, demands stronger Allied Health engagement in screening and disease management. Meanwhile, health spending patterns show 41% on inpatient care and only 19% on outpatient services, reflecting limited investment in preventive and community-based care.
The address concluded that Sri Lanka’s Allied Health sector must be strengthened through three key pillars: research capacity-building, innovation, and policy empowerment. By embracing these domains, Allied Health professionals can become catalysts for evidence-based transformation, leading the shift toward a more equitable and sustainable healthcare system for Sri Lanka.
Dr. Maheswaran Pratheesh
Plenary Speech, 7th Undergraduate Research Symposium,
Department of Pharmacy,
Faculty of Allied Health Sciences,
University of Jaffna.
Dean/FAHS | |
Symposium Chair | |
Secretary | |
Treasurer | |
Associate Treasurer | Ms. S. Srithevi |
Editor | |
Committee Members | Dr. (Mrs) S. Sivasinthujah |