MAKATI CITY — Makati Medical Center (MakatiMed) has unveiled the Aperio GT 180 DX scanner, becoming the first hospital in Southeast Asia to deploy this digital pathology technology. The scanner marks a significant milestone in pathology by enabling the digitization of tissue samples for more efficient diagnosis and collaboration in the medical field. This development comes as cancer cases rise globally while the number of pathologists continues to decline, creating what experts describe as a "perfect storm" of increasing demand and shrinking specialist capacity.
A Milestone for Cancer Diagnostics and Research
The Aperio GT 180 DX scanner digitizes pathology slides, allowing medical experts to access and analyze samples remotely in real time, rather than waiting days for a specialist's availability. This capability is particularly valuable for MakatiMed, a referral hospital that handles complex cases requiring expert input. The technology is also expected to relieve cancer patients and their families of the anxiety associated with waiting for diagnostic results, enabling them to begin treatment sooner. Beyond improving patient care, the digital scanner will aid in developing cancer research in the Philippines by generating local data on Filipino cancers, which is currently scarce. Medical oncologists also highlighted that the integration of digital pathology with radiology images will allow for multidisciplinary discussions and better patient communication.
A Commitment to Digital Health Innovation
This launch reinforces MakatiMed's position at the forefront of healthcare technology in the Philippines and the region. The hospital has emphasized that the introduction of artificial intelligence in the digitization process will assist pathologists, not replace them, helping to address the shortage of specialists. By leading the adoption of advanced digital pathology tools, MakatiMed continues to strengthen its capacity for accurate and timely diagnoses, particularly in the critical field of cancer care.
