First National Pathology Week in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: For the first time in Pakistan, National Pathology Week will be observed from May 9 to May 15.

The National College of Pathology, in collaboration with the health ministry, arranged a seminar on Friday to announce this. The seminar aims to create awareness among the public regarding pathology. Director General Ministry of Health Rashid Juma said fake laboratories were being run by would-be doctors claiming to be pathologists.

He said these needed to be closed down to protect the people’s faith in medical science. “Balochistan, Punjab and Sindh tried to form laws in order to take action against fake diagnostic laboratories but they failed. Lt Gen Retired Manzoor Anwar, a renowned pathologist, said that this week would support the slogan: “Pathology is the basis of Medicine” and be used as a platform to inform people about the field.

Anwar told the media that there are approximately 1,500 pathologists in the country, who are “unsung heroes, working to save people’s lives.” He said it was a misconception that better machinery in laboratories necessarily meant more accurate diagnosis. He emphasised the importance of capable doctors but clarified that he did not mean that laboratory equipment be substandard.

“The importance of pathology in the diagnoses process cannot be ignored and if laboratories do not retain certain standards it can lead to death,” he warned.