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The BMJ South Asia collection 2020 Authors consultation – May 29, Dubai

Doctors from South Asian countries expressed concern over the uncertainties in South Asia due to continued rhetoric by the governments of India and Pakistan in the recent period. In a meeting organized by the British Medical Journal on 29^th May 2019 in Dubai. Medical professionals from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka gathered in “The BMJ South Asia collection 2020 Authors consultation”. The meeting discussed at length the health scenario in the region. They dwelt on the need for effective implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) on health. The important focus of the discussion was goal 16 of the SDGs which lays stress on sustainable peace. Various speakers highlighted the need for mutual dialogue to sort out the issues among nations and demanded more people to people exchange to remove mistrust in the region. There was consensus on that the region should be nuclear weapon free and for this India and Pakistan should join the Treaty Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). Dr Arun Mitra, who represented IPPNW and IDPD, gave an account of Humanitarian Consequences of Nuclear War. He shared his experience of having dialogue with the decision makers in Nepal. He informed that soon similar dialogue will be held in the Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. Dr.Kamran Abbasi from the editorial staff of BMJ told that they plan to bring out a special issue on South Asia in January 2020. Dr Zulfiqar Bhutta from Pakistan said that they would give inputs in the upcoming issue of the BMJ collectively by the doctors from India and Pakistan on the question of nuclear disarmament in the region.