As S.L. Raheja Hospital marks 45 years, the advanced histopathology department’s launch signals a forward-looking approach. How does this reflect a broader strategic shift towards integrated, technology-led care delivery?
Dr Kunal Punamiya: The hospital is now prepared to integrate the newer technologies in day-to-day operations of diagnostics as well as in other processes of the hospital. Our aim is to change this traditional, reactive treatment centre into a more proactive and digitalised ecosystem. This will help in turn to achieve greater precision, faster turnaround times, and improved patient care.
With the relaunch of the Histopathology Department at S.L. Raheja Hospital, what key improvements have been introduced in terms of diagnostic accuracy, turnaround time, and clinical support?
Dr Pravin Mahajan: The expansion of the new lab encompasses addition of new technologies like Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization (FISH) and expansion of the existing services like immunohistochemistry, with additional markers – predictive and prognostic, already added to the earlier panels. However, technology though complimentary in diagnostic processes, can never fully replace the holistic approach of a clinician. And for this reason, as we continue to expand and incorporate every available technology as far as possible, the histopathology laboratory at S. L. Raheja Hospital continues to be clinically driven in meeting the needs of individual patients. We continue to strive to give accurate, comprehensive, and timely reports, which our histopathology department is known for and has been delivering all these years.
The department is known for handling complex referrals and second opinions. What factors have contributed to building this level of trust among clinicians?
Dr Pravin Mahajan: We have always believed in carrying out our work with the patient being the prime focus, and with the moto of “patient first, always”. We have imbibed this culture of patient centric histopathology reporting, unique to this department, from none other than the best, our mentor late Dr Anita Borges. A strong and steady team of experienced doctors and technical staff has been built over the last two decades, who have been striving for excellence and perfection in their work. Our constant commitment to accuracy and excellence, combined with genuine care and empathy for our patients, has been instrumental in shaping who we are today.
With the addition of new diagnostic techniques and protocols, how do these changes support clinicians in making more informed treatment decisions?
Dr Pravin Mahajan: Introduction of new immunohistochemistry markers (and introduction of FISH, where applicable) helps in making more precise diagnosis, prognosticating outcomes and planning more tailored treatment protocols for individual patients.
In an era of precision oncology, is histopathology keeping pace with the demand for faster, more definitive diagnoses or is there still a gap between expectation and ground reality?
Dr Pravin Mahajan: Oncology is a rapidly evolving and expanding field. There is also a steady rise in cancer incidence across the general population. Histopathology is effectively keeping pace with the growing demand for accurate and timely diagnoses. But this aspect must be handled with care as this can be only achieved in the hands of experienced Histopathologists. A shortage of experienced histopathologists and training gaps exist, and we are dedicated to closing them. To address this, we have initiated a senior residency and a DNB training programme in pathology, contributing to the development of skilled professionals in the field.
As cancer cases grow more complex, how do histopathologists balance diagnostic accuracy with the pressure of quicker turnaround times without compromising clinical confidence?
Dr Pravin Mahajan: It is a big challenge but years of hard work, experience, constant reading and being abreast with the latest in medical & surgical oncology helps us corroborate and achieve accurate and timely diagnosis.
Given the rising reliance on second opinions in complex cases, what does this say about variability in histopathology reporting, and how can the field move towards greater standardisation?
Dr Pravin Mahajan: Yes, there is a certain degree of variability in reporting due to the inherent subjective nature of the branch as well as the experience of individual histopathologists in dealing with challenging cases. The variability can also be due to deficiency in quality training, failure in maintaining the lab standards, etc. leading to variability in reporting and diagnosis. This can be overcome by ensuring that all histopathology labs are NABL accredited to ensure technical compatibility and meet minimum standards of functioning. This must be complemented by ensuring regular participation in EQAS programmes to ensure the quality is maintained. Also, a robust training system will help to create a good pool of technicians as well as doctors to improve the overall quality of diagnosis and healthcare.
Kalyani.sharma@expressindia.com
journokalyani@gmail.com