UIAA/ICAR/ISMM Diploma of Mountain Medicine

Many members of the International Society of Mountain Medicine (ISMM) will be aware of the joint diploma in mountain medicine set up in 1997 by the ISMM and the medical committees of the International Mountaineering and Climbing Federation (UIAA) and the International commission for Alpine Rescue (ICAR). In many countries the course has achieved university academic recognition and many hundreds of doctors and, more recently, paramedics now hold the qualification. It is the only such qualification that includes both medical and mountaineering skills in equal measure. This unique combination ensures that anybody consulting a doctor who holds the diploma can be confident that, regardless of their speciality he, or she, will have insight into the challenges of living and working in a mountain environment. Anybody holding the qualification will know the realities of coping with an injured or sick patient in a remote area in adverse weather away from conventional help

The basic diploma syllabus can be adapted for local geography, differing cultural learning styles, and assessment methods. The Diploma is now run in over seven countries, with well-advanced plans to set up new courses in the USA, Canada, Norway, and Nepal. Within Nepal, the responsible organisation will be the Mountain Medicine Society of Nepal which was formed in 2001 and has already cooperated on international research projects and with ICAR on a mountain rescue training scheme. If the diploma can become established in Nepal, it will not only provide the basis for increased care of foreign trekkers and mountaineers visiting Nepal but my additional “hidden” agenda is that it will encourage local doctors to stay in Nepal and practice in the hill regions, thus offering increased care for the local population. The course will apply for academic approval from Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Kathmandu, giving Nepal its first postgraduate medical diploma and lending further kudos to the subject of mountain medicine in Nepal. The Nepalese course involves an elegant plan covering the whole of the required UIAA/ICAR/ISMM syllabus but also tailored to their national needs with specific sections on health during altitude pilgrimages, working at a Himalayan aid post, porter health, and field research. In addition, it will be delivering public health talks to the local population during the 3-week mountain section of the course. To fit with local needs and an acclimatization schedule, the course will run for 1 month with the first week in Kathmandu. It then moves into the mountains with work on cliffs and glaciers based near the new mountain Centre in Thame which will be reached via the Hillary trust hospital in Khunde.

All countries currently running the diploma have had a secure base for initial funding from established national organisations such as their Alpine Clubs. Nepal is the first economically developing country to attempt to set up such a course without a secure financial footing. I strongly believe that the Mountain Medicine Society of Nepal deserves support from countries whose nationals enjoy the high peaks of Nepal and make no apology for asking for financial help on their behalf. To date, their project has support from various organizations in the UK and Switzerland, with funds pledged to run over 3 years. The UK mountain medicine education charity, Medical Expeditions, has set up a scheme for donations. For more details of this exciting project including the initial feasibility study, financial plans, and details of how to donate please see their website.

Further Information

Medical Expeditions (UK) for feasibility study: http://www.medex.org.uk/diploma

UIAA for information on the Diploma: http://www.theuiaa.org/mountain_medicine.html