Digital & Computational Pathology - Professor & Lab Director, Large Chinese University

A professor at a large Chinese university discusses the current state of digital pathology technologies in China. The professor's team is developing polarization imaging techniques and machine learning technology to extract microstructure information from pathological slides and assist doctors in diagnosis. Currently, most doctors in the professor's city only use the digitization aspect of digital pathology, and only some purchase software for image analysis. The professor estimates that over half of the hospitals in Beijing and Shenzhen have scanners, with government-funded hospitals being more likely to have them. Different hospitals choose scanner vendors based on various factors, and Chinese-made scanners are improving. The cost of digital pathology equipment varies, with Japanese products being more expensive. Software for image analysis is also costly, and hospitals are reluctant to invest due to its limited perceived benefits compared to traditional microscopy. In a similar vein, upgrading the software is challenging due to funding difficulties. The sharing of slides and information among doctors is currently uncommon, but the professor believes a new system is needed. The stakeholder emphasizes the importance of technological improvements, acceptance by the medical community and government, and regulatory bodies as key indicators for the use of digital pathology. Collaboration, advancements in other technologies, and regulatory acceptance are necessary for the widespread adoption of digital pathology in China.