Pathcare Kenya limited -an Internationally accredited private laboratory services provider-has urged Kenyans to embrace routine check-ups and screenings for early detection.
Speaking at a media workshop In Nairobi meant to demystify pathology and educate the media on the vital role of pathology in healthcare, Dr. Kiran Radia Chief Pathologist, Pathcare Kenya said that routine health and wellness examinations play a pivotal role in early detection and prevention of diseases, ultimately contributing to a longer, healthier life.
With Kenya battling rise of both non-communicable diseases and infectious diseases such as TB, HIV/AIDS and Malaria. Pathologists can diagnose these diseases effectively and monitor their drug resistant patterns informing treatment strategies.
“It is more expensive to treat advance disease and the whole world is moving towards early detection, Dr Radia said adding that,” Many serious conditions, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes, often show subtle or no symptoms in their early stages. Regular health check-ups enable healthcare professionals to identify these conditions at an early, when they are in a more treatable phase, preventing them from progressing into more advanced and challenging stages.”
Pathology is the medical discipline that provides diagnostic information to patients and clinicians. It impacts nearly all aspects of patient care, from diagnosing to managing diseases through accurate laboratory testing.
She said that in early detection and diagnosis, Pathologists examine tissues, cells, and bodily fluids to identify abnormal changes. Early detection of these changes can lead to timely interventions and improved prognoses. For instance, histopathological examination of biopsied tissues can reveal precancerous lesions, allowing for prompt treatment and prevention of full-blown cancer.
Dr Radia however encouraged Doctors to ensure prudent use of labs and use scientific approaches to wellness diagnosis by being more selective through evidence-based testing and treatment, and discouraged unnecessary tests.
“The younger the doctor the more the tests one orders, doctors should not over investigate and or under-investigate,” Dr Radia advised.
While Samwel Irungu, managing director (MD), Pathcare Kenya said that Pathcare is working to reduce health inequities by opening up laboratories in the periphery counties to improve access to diagnostic services in remote areas of Kenya.
He added that “We have managed to have 45 units that focus on ensuring access to pathology care and support Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by ensuring that quality, affordability and accessibility of laboratory medicine is achieved.”
He added that, Pathcare launched a strategy plan that is focusing on ensuring expansion across the country in all 47 counties to increase diagnostic access considering that we have less than 200 pathologists in the country.
Joseph Kiwinga anatomic pathologist at PathCare Kenya Ltd said that pathologist play important role in improving national health outcomes by monitoring disease outbreaks, identifying pathogens understanding their characteristics and tracking disease trends there fore informing public health interventions and resource allocations.
He added that pathology can help in identifying disease outbreaks quickly and precisely therefore allowing for targeted interventions to contain the spread.
David Atandi, Consultant Anatomic Pathologist at PathCare Kenya Ltd, explained that since most symptoms overlap there is need to always do laboratory tests as they guide physicians on accurate diagnosis and treatment.
“Correctly done tests save time for patients, lessens the mental burden and enables the correct treatment planning.”
Dr Radia advised members of the public to always seek laboratory services from accredited laboratories arguing that accredited laboratories like PathCare Ltd are technically competent to produce reliable, accurate results that can be replicated in any lab in the world.
She added that accurate diagnosis is the foundation for effective treatment plans that leads to better patient outcome and reduced complications.
Pathologists help by finding risks and possible health issues before we even feel sick. Tests like Pap smears, mammograms, and blood tests catch issues early, so doctors can act before things get worse.
it is a driving force behind accurate disease diagnosis, effective treatment strategies, and advancements in medical research.
