The role of digital pathology in enabling remote operations during the CVID-19 pandemic and beyond a pathologist's perspective for the future opportunity

Significant progress has been made in the area of digital pathology during the past 20 years. With rapid scanners, whole slide imaging (WSI) can now create high-resolution digital duplicates of glass slides. Objective: To assess fundamental understanding of digital pathology among Pakistani pathologists practicing in labs throughout the country. Methods: The current study was cross sectional study carried out at the Department of Pathology, Gomal Medical College, Medical Teaching Institute, Dera Ismail Khan, Pakistan for a period of six months. This study was proforma based and pathologists across the country were included in the study. All the data from the questionnaire was entered and analyzed by employing IBM SPSS version 24. Results: A total of 210 pathologists were enrolled, amongst which 84 (40%) were males and 126 (60%) were females. Pathologist familiar with the Digital Pathology idea were 147 (70%) while 63 (30%) pathologists were not familiar with the digital pathology. Amongst 210 pathologists, 157 (74.77%) pathologists have idea about digital microscope. Pathologist having knowledge of pathology slide scanner idea were 147 (70%) while 63 (30%) pathologists were observed as having no knowledge of pathology slide scanner. Pathologist familiar with the idea of artificial intelligence were 96 (45.71%) while 114 (54.29%) participants were not familiar with the artificial intelligence. Conclusion: In spite of the fact that digital pathology is very promising and has resulted in a shift in the thought pattern of pathologists practicing in underdeveloped countries such as Pakistan, there are still challenges to overcome such as expense, technical assistance, regulation and validation needs.