State short of local pathologists
The shortfall has to be addressed as only five of 14 such specialists are Sarawakians
Dr Chin looking through the microscope at the International Pathology Day exhibition while Dr Wong (second left) explains. Dr Masrin is behind Dr Chin. — Photo by Chimon Upon
KUCHING: Sarawak needs more local pathologists to strengthen its pathology services in the healthcare sector.
Sarawak General Hospital (SGH) head of Pathology Department Dr Jacqueline Wong Oy Leng said currently there were 14 pathologists in the state, of which only five were Sarawakians.
“We have 13 pathologists in Kuching while one pathology specialist is based in Miri Hospital. Nine of these specialists are from Peninsular Malaysia who usually serve between one and three years before they get transferred back.
“In view of this, we hope that more junior doctors in Sarawak would be interested to take up this medical specialty as our scope of work is different, in which you are not treating patients but doing tests to either diagnose diseases or help clinicians to manage the patients,” she told reporters when met after the launch of SGH’s International Pathology Day which was officiated by SGH director Dr Chin Zin Hing at the hospital yesterday.
Dr Chin, meanwhile, pointed out that more than 70 per cent of diagnostic and treatment decisions made by doctors were based on pathology laboratory test results.
“Pathology is a critical part of the medical process and without it, there is no medicine.
“As such, pathologists serve as a crucial aspect of the healthcare sector as they play an important role in defining the pattern of diseases in the population, reduce medical errors and infections as well as improve the quality of healthcare,” he emphasised.
On another matter, Dr Chin disclosed that construction of the new pathology building of Sarawak General Hospital is expected to commence next year.
According to him, the building, which will take around three years to complete, is one of the components of the hospital’s multi-storey carpark project.
“This is a private-funded project where in addition to the multi-storey carpark, there will also be new labs, blood bank as well as a treatment centre,” he told reporters.
He added that the new pathology building will be located near the hospital’s helipad site, and will house various units of pathology such as haematology, cytopathology, microbiology, histopathology, and medical transfusion.
Earlier in his speech, Dr Chin said fulfilling clinical and patients’ needs were the main priorities of pathology services.
“As such, the scope of tests must be comprehensive and cover all the needs in the clinical field. The quality of these tests must also fulfil the standard requirements that have been set.
“In the Pathology Department, customers do not only constitute patients but also specialists and doctors. Therefore, it is imperative that all pathologists ensure that they provide high quality pathology service which meets the criteria of high competence,” he added.
On SGH’s International Pathology Day, Dr Chin said the event was celebrated for the first time at the hospital in honour of the high quality services provided by pathologists.
“It is also to create public awareness that the profession of pathology plays a role in the public’s health outcome while at the same time, try to promote understanding on pathology to medical officers and doctors who may be interested to take on this valuable discipline,” he added.
Other activities which were held during the event were an exhibition on pathology at the hospital’s main foyer as well as talks on various pathology disciplines such as histopathology and cytology, chemical pathology, haematology, transfusion medicine, microbiology and forensic medicine.
Also present at the launch was SGH head of medical transfusion service and International Pathology Day Celebration Committee chairman Dr Mohammad Masrin.
