India: Digital Pathology – A Game Changer
Interesting piece online about a lab’s experience in India with digital pathology with regard to services provided, pricing and regulatory issues and importance on patient care for their patient population.
India has a vast population and international standard of healthcare is being provided by private and government hospitals in metros only, says Dr Mithilesh Chandra, Director, Pathology Consultancy Services, Noida
Dr Mithilesh Chandra, Director, Pathology Consultancy Services, Noida
Please tell us about your current operations in India and your expansion plans.
Currently our surgical pathology laboratory is engaged in digital pathology for procuring second consultation in pathology from overseas pathology experts. This facility is being used by the medical specialists as well as the patients particularly for confirming the diagnosis of cancer. We have a panel of expert pathology across the globe that provides opinion.
What are your views on the price sensitivity of the Indian market, and how does your hospital counter this problem?
Indian patients are very price sensitive. Hence we have taken special care of this aspect in our service. We are providing consultation from global pathologists at rates competitive to Indian charges. That is one of the reasons that our service is becoming popular fast.
“Digital pathology is going to be a game changer and usher in era of e-education for medical, dental, nursing, and paramedical students”
What are your views on government regulation or any other challenges faced while operating the Indian market?
At present, there is no interference from government agencies in this field and we see a greater positive role of government in the coming years.
Please comment on emerging trends and new technologies.
Digital pathology is going to be a game changer and usher in era of eeducation for medical, dental, nursing, and paramedical students. This is particularly going to enrich education in the field of pathology and histology.
Simultaneously it is going to bring pathology diagnosis from international experts at the door step of Indian patients improving the healthcare.
Government of India can use existing digital pathology platforms for improvement of healthcare services in India. It can be used to start national cervical cancer screening program whereby virtual images of pap smears taken at the peripheral health centres can be transmitted to the digital pathology portals and reporting can be done by a group of designated pathologists. This step by the government will save thousands of lives of women in reproductive age group who succumb to dreaded cervical cancer every year due to lack of cervical cancer screening program.
What are your hospital’s offerings?
Our laboratory is offering consultation in pathology from international experts is providing digital pathology platform to others for their product and services.
