Invest in digital pathology to transform healthcare

I recently read an article about the struggling state of our healthcare systems. As a senior medical professional, I can attest to the glaring gaps, particularly in my field of practice: pathology.

Every month, my colleagues and I diagnose hundreds of new cancer cases. With fewer than 200 pathologists serving a population of over 50 million, many more cases likely go undiagnosed, causing profound anguish among families in our society.

However, digital pathology presents a unique solution that, with investment, can revolutionise diagnostics in Kenya.

When a patient visits a clinic or hospital and their doctor orders a test, there is often a pathologist in the laboratory involved in carrying out that test and making the diagnosis.

For instance, if a doctor sees a patient with a fever and a history of travel, and suspects malaria, they will send the patient to the laboratory for testing.

After a blood sample is collected, a clinical pathologist examines the slide, makes the diagnosis of malaria if present, and generates a pathology report to communicate the findings to the doctor. With a positive diagnosis, the clinical doctor can administer appropriate treatment. 

Approximately 70 per cent of patients who see a doctor require a pathology diagnosis. Pathologists work tirelessly behind the scenes, examining a variety of patient samples - blood, stool, urine, and tissue biopsies - and providing diagnoses that guide patient treatment and management.

In our current medical environment, cancer is the third leading cause of mortality. Best practice dictates that pathologists are responsible for accurately diagnosing, grading, and prognosticating cancer.

Yet, with the current shortage of pathologists, achieving best practice remains a distant goal. An innovative approach to pathology is offering renewed hope for patients in several hospitals across Kenyan counties.

Thanks to the introduction of digital pathology, I am part of a group of pathologists providing high-quality diagnoses to thousands of patients in previously underserved areas.

Our network utilises a digital pathology platform - an online application that connects us to patients and laboratories across counties.

Through this platform, doctors in various hospitals can request pathology tests from laboratories linked to the system.

The laboratories receive and process the samples into glass slides, which are then transported to pathologists like me via the digital platform.

We provide detailed pathology reports for these patients and their doctors. Between making diagnoses, performing autopsies, and teaching,  pathologists in Kenya are stretched thin.

Physical distances between hospitals, morgues, and medical schools mean pathologists spend a significant amount of time travelling between facilities instead of serving patients.

Digital pathology is actively reducing downtime and physical distances by fostering online connections between doctors, patients, laboratories, and pathologists.

Digital pathology is advancing further, with the introduction of digital slide scanners that convert glass slides into high-resolution digital images.

These images are securely transmitted online from partner laboratories to pathologists. This innovation reduces the turnaround time for diagnoses and alleviates the logistical challenges of transporting physical slides and microscopes. 

As a pioneer in digital pathology, I will soon transition from using a microscope to making diagnoses entirely on-screen. High-resolution digital images, accessible via tablets or computers, enable me to work from anywhere with an internet connection, significantly improving both my efficiency and availability.

For example, as a pathologist based in Nairobi County, I can make a diagnosis and provide a pathology report that is instantly accessible through our online platform to a doctor and their patient in Tharaka Nithi County. 

Kenya, celebrated as the Silicon Savannah, must capitalise on its government’s focus on digital innovation. Investment in digital pathology is both urgent and essential to meet Kenya’s Universal Health Care goals.  

Dr Waithaka is a consultant pathologist at The Pathology Network. [email protected]