KARACHI: In a groundbreaking move for public healthcare, the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) in Karachi is set to become Pakistan’s first government hospital to offer real-time cancer biopsy results.
The Sindh government will implement the confocal instant digital pathology system under its upcoming Annual Development Programme. This state-of-the-art technology enables surgeons to detect and assess cancerous tumors instantly during surgery, a service previously limited to select private hospitals.
Professor Shahid Rasool, Executive Director of JPMC, said the system will drastically reduce biopsy result wait times—from the usual 14-15 days to within minutes during operations. This will allow surgeons to make immediate and informed decisions, improving surgical precision and patient safety.
Two advanced diagnostic units, costing Rs366 million, will be installed: one in the Surgical Complex (serving general surgery, ENT, orthopaedics, and thoracic departments), and another in the gynaecology ward, focusing on women’s cancer diagnostics.
The system will reduce anaesthesia time, increase diagnostic accuracy, and replace slower methods like frozen section and core biopsy. Officials say this initiative is a major step toward modernizing Pakistan’s public cancer care and aligning it with international standards, benefiting thousands of patients dependent on the public health system.
