The backroom nature of diagnostic pathology and the general lack of public awareness mean little value is attached to the service. This is an important message for all those involved in the delivery and funding of pathology – government, public and private pathology providers, as well as the professionals who work in laboratories - pathologists and scientists.
It was succinctly put by our group of pathology collectors. They would like to see the public better informed about pathology, the testing process and, in particular, the cost and value of testing. Collectors believe if people understood the cost of pathology testing they would value it more.
“People aren’t all that interested in what their tests are about if they are free. If they have to pay for them they want to know all about them.” (Collector, Brisbane)
“They need to know that it costs a lot of money and they are getting it for free. They might value what they are getting more.” (Collector, Brisbane)
“They think it’s free, you know we all work for nothing, the labs work for nothing….You are all Queensland Health, it’s all free, the government pays it all.” (Collector, Brisbane)
Our group of hospital doctors and nurses thought patients had no concept of the cost of pathology. They also raised the issue of doctors who were not fully-informed about tests and who felt the need to ‘over test’ their patients. “Nobody ever thinks about the cost involved at all.” (Hospital doctor, Sydney)