Rabouni Pathology Laboratory
In the camps, patients often have to wait several months for a pathological diagnosis following tissue sample collection—or must travel over 1,000 kilometers to have biopsies taken. Especially in cancer cases not detected and treated promptly in early stages, this delay significantly increases the risk of severe disease progression.
Together with officials responsible for women’s health, the Ministry of Health, and its staff, medipalestine developed a project enabling improved on-site triage despite the shortage of specialized personnel: The tissue samples are processed at Rabouni Hospital by trained laboratory technicians and then promptly evaluated by a pathologist—either locally or abroad—via telemedicine.
Project objectives:
- Through telemedicine, pathologists both domestically and internationally assess tissue samples and biopsies prepared on-site. Based on these evaluations, decisions can be made regarding which patients require referral to Algerian hospitals for further treatment.
- On-site diagnostics and triage shorten diagnostic timelines and improve prognoses for subsequent treatments.
- Access to quality medical care is simplified and expanded to reach more people.
- Local healthcare professionals receive training and continuing education, while professional expertise is networked and strengthened.
In September 2022, the association’s president and a member traveled for the first time to the Sahrawi refugee camps near Tindouf to conduct initial consultations with local health authorities. In 2023, project planning commenced.
In 2024, a project agreement was signed with the local Ministry of Health, and training for four women began as early as May 1 at a university clinic in Algiers.
In December 2024, laboratory equipment was delivered and installed in dedicated facilities at the Hospital Nacional in Rabouni. Together with lead pathologist Mahdi Mohammed, the team commenced operations.
