Dear Colleagues,
We would like to thank EFCS for issuing this important matter at UEMS. Unfortunately, UEMS representative of Turkey will not be able to attend Split meeting on 21 May, however we submit our comments below.
In Turkey, medical training in histopathology and cytopathology are largely carried out at postgraduate level. Histopathology requires 4 years’ specialty training and for cytopathology ‘super-speciality’ is another 2 year with MD thesis. For training in cytopathology, histopathology qualification is essential.
Training in histopathology and cytopathology were organized locally, by the institutions so far; last year Health Ministry took the step to organise it at national level. Two commissions, histopathology and cytopathology are formed, each composed of 11 MD’s and cytopathology commission is all of members of Turkish Society of Cytopathology. Both commissions are working on training programs, curriculums and examinations in histopathology and cytopathology, aiming completing in one year.
We believe that cytopathology is an integral part of histopathology; the basic training in the common trunk needs to be sufficient to train pathologists in the principles of cytopathology as a whole, so they can decide whether to specialise in it further or apply it competently . 6-12 months should be dedicated to cytopathology during histopathology training.
Regarding the cytopathology representation at UEMS, EFCS should be the representative and continue its ongoing activities concerning guidelines and formulating teaching requirements.
Best regards,
Prof. Dilek Yılmazbayhan Assoc.Prof. Binnur Önal
President, Turkish Society of Cytopathology Cytopathology commission, Health Ministry