The Changing Landscape of Clinical Chemistry in Pakistan: Roles, Training Experiences, and Career Pathways- a National Survey.

BACKGROUND: Chemical pathology is a fast-growing field, with an even greater demand for pathologists in Pakistan. This study aims to evaluate the current landscape of FCPS-certified chemical pathologists in Pakistan, evaluating their training experiences and current leadership roles in their field. METHODS: This was a nationwide cross-sectional survey conducted of FCPS-trained chemical pathologists. The study was conducted via an online questionnaire (Google Forms) containing questions regarding the demographics, training experiences and current roles. RESULTS: A total of 82 respondents were included in the study and most of them were females (68%, n=56). Over half of the respondents were aged 31-40 years (51%). Most participants were from Punjab (57%) and were employed full-time (79%), primarily in government (38%) or private (43%) sectors. The majority worked in urban areas (89%), and the type of work setting varied significantly by gender (p = 0.034). 63% practised solely in chemical pathology, while 70% reported that their work involved other pathology disciplines as well. Research involvement was high overall (85%), with all male participants engaged in research compared to 79% of female participants (p = 0.011). The majority of the participants rated their training experience positively as either excellent (30%) or very good (29%). CONCLUSION: FCPS-certified chemical pathologists are overall satisfied with their training experiences. This study highlights the need for structured mentorship and institutional support to strengthen the future chemical pathology workforce.