Association of Medical Doctors of ASIA, founded in 1984, Consultative Status with UN ECOSOC since 1995

In September 2022, AMDA resumed endoscopy training in Mongolia, which had been temporarily suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic. Based on the partnership between Mongolian National University of Medical Sciences (MNUMS) and AMDA that was formed in 2011, the project was held every year between 2017 and 2019 under the guidance of Japanese endoscopist Dr. Takushi Sato, who also serves as an AMDA board member.

From 19 to 24 September 2022, Dr. Sato along with Dr. Takeyuki Shirai from Japan visited Mongolia to give hands-on lectures on esophagogastric varices and colorectal cancer in early stages. The course was held at MNUMS’ Mongolia-Japan Hospital, which was constructed with the support of the Japanese government in April 2019.

First, the Japanese specialists and the team of Mongolian endoscopists confirmed and discussed each other’s procedures and directions concerning upper/lower gastrointestinal endoscopy. Dr. Shirai talked about the diagnosis of colon cancer using endoscopic ultrasound and cancer surgery techniques that are common in Japan. The lecture on endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) was held in English. Likewise, Dr. Sato taught young medical interns the basics of endoscopy using an endoscopy simulator he brought from Japan. 

Listed below are the topics covered during the session:

-Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL)
-Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMS)
-Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
-Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD)
-Colonoscopy

The project also hopes to cover endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (EIS), as well as EIS with ligation (EISL) in future sessions.

On this occasion, AMDA signed a partnership agreement with the Mongolia-Japan Hospital for further collaboration. Dr. Sato, Dr. Shirai, and Dr. Mendjargal Adilsaikhan who heads the hospital, expressed their hopes for the stronger ties between the two parties through active technical exchanges in the years to come.

As the training course came to a close, the three doctors paid a courtesy visit to Japanese ambassador His Excellency Hiroyuki Kobayashi at the Embassy of Japan in Mongolia with two other AMDA staff members. They reported the enthusiasm of Mongolian doctors who work with integrity in treating patients, and explained that plans were underway to introduce medical devices from Japan in the following year. 


Dr. Shirai gave the following comment:

“I could tell that everyone’s eyes were gleaming with curiosity and aspiration during the endoscopy training and lectures. What moved me was the Mongolian doctors’ willingness to contribute to the development of the Mongolian medical scene and the country itself. Improving one’s skills is important, of course, but obtaining necessary equipment is equally vital. Through my guidance on how to use the readily-available devices at the hospital, I really hope they discovered their true value and usability. Last but not least, their passion has motivated me a lot in pursuing what I do as a medical professional.”