In Pakistan, hematology Speciality has become vital since Dengue, Malaria, and lack of blood donors and lack of awareness, in general, have been attributed as the cause of the shortage of blood and blood products. On the other hand hospitals and the ministry of health have played vital roles to develop and implement and practice safe and professional-level hematology services. Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority, Registered Blood Banks has been promoting the culture of safety and supporting hospitals. South City Hospital, adopted a one step further and lodged one of the Largest Blood banks, HBB’s point of care at the premises of the hospital.
Hematology is practiced by hematologists and hematopathologists. Hematologists are medical doctors with additional years of training in hematology. They are involved in direct patient care and diagnose and manage various hematological diseases, including cancers of the blood and bone marrow. Hematopathologists are medical doctors with board certifications in clinical and anatomical pathology. They study not only blood and blood-related diseases but also the tissues and organs, such as the spleen, lymph nodes, and the thymus, that use blood for their physiological functions. Hematopathologists diagnose blood and lymph-related conditions using tissue and blood samples in the laboratory. Hematologists specializing in nonmalignant blood disorders use various blood smears, tests, and molecular diagnostic tools to formulate a proper diagnosis and treatment plan for their patients. They are sometimes also involved in the long-term care of patients with chronic hematological diseases. Specialists in malignant hematological disorders also require a broad knowledge of other fields, such as infectious diseases. They can further specialize in treatment methods such as bone marrow transplants, used for many blood cancers. Transfusion medicine is yet another area of specialization in treating malignant hematological disorders. Hematologist-oncologists are specialists who do not perform cancer-related surgeries but treat the conditions with medications. In addition, they provide cancer screening tests, monitor chemotherapy regimens, and work with other specialists such as oncology surgeons, pathologists, and radiation oncologists. Since blood is the human body’s life force, almost all aspects of human health are linked to the circulatory system. Hematologists can collaborate with specialists from many other disciplines, such as surgeons, cardiologists, immunologists, and infectious disease specialists. They can also serve as consultants in other medical fields, such as trauma, neurosurgery, and cardiovascular diseases.
Hematology tests: Blood tests provide valuable information for diagnosing hematological and non-hematological diseases and disorders. A complete blood count (CBC) is one of the most common blood tests employed in disease diagnosis. The hematological parameters measured in a CBC include the number of white and red blood cells, platelet count, hematocrit red blood cell volume, hemoglobin concentration, differential white blood count, and various other red blood cell indices. Complete blood counts are used in diagnosing infections, anemia, blood-related cancers, and inflammatory diseases.
