KARACHI: In a landmark development for public healthcare in Pakistan, the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) in Karachi will become the country’s first government hospital to offer real-time biopsy results for suspected cancer patients.
Under the Sindh government’s Annual Development Programme for the upcoming fiscal year, JPMC is set to introduce the confocal instant digital pathology system, a cutting-edge diagnostic tool that allows surgeons to determine the presence and spread of tumors instantly during surgery.
Professor Shahid Rasool, Executive Director of JPMC, said the advanced technology — previously only available in select private hospitals — will significantly reduce patient wait times for biopsy results, which typically take 14 to 15 days.
“This revolutionary system enables the creation of slides and examination of tissue samples in real-time during surgery,” Rasool explained. “It will help surgeons make immediate decisions regarding the extent of the tumor, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing surgical risks.”
The project includes the procurement of two high-tech diagnostic units at a cost of Rs366 million. One unit will be installed in the Surgical Complex, benefiting departments such as general surgery, orthopaedics, thoracic surgery, and ENT. The second unit will be set up in the gynaecology ward to enhance cancer diagnostics for women.
Beyond faster diagnosis, the initiative aims to minimize the time patients spend under anaesthesia and to improve the accuracy of surgical interventions. Traditional methods like frozen section or core biopsy take longer and can pose increased risks.
The installation of this system marks a significant step in modernizing cancer care at public hospitals in Pakistan, aligning with global best practices and offering a lifeline to thousands of patients reliant on the public health sector.
