The practice of histopathology in a developing country: Difficulties and challenges; plus a discussion on the terrible disease burden we carry

摘要: Histopathology as a science is still evolving in Pakistan. A majority of lesions which should be biopsied are actually never biopsied, and even many resection specimens sent for histopathological examination. For population 160 million people, there only three to four centres note where meaningful histopathology practised. We work consultant histopathologists at the Department Pathology, Aga Khan University (AKU), Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city. The Section AKU centre Other major country include Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH) Lahore, Armed Forces Institute Pathology (AFIP) Rawalpindi. In addition, few smaller various cities can counted on fingers. vast clinical laboratories across country, facilities very primitive small scale. There great dearth qualified histopathologists, basic tools accurate diagnosis (especially immunohistochemistry, most valuable adjunct H&E staining diagnostic histopathology), not available more than half dozen centres. Even larger centres, issues costing expenditure have led slashing budgets rising costs histopathology, with resultant losses increased cost patients. Hence, pathology reluctant too keen provide optimum facilities, mentioned above, rather nature. clinicians (both physicians surgeons), especially those practising towns unaware (or unwilling) accept importance evaluation management disease. cases, …