Healthcare regulators in Pakistan are preparing to act against unauthorised ultrasound reporting, amid concern that some doctors are issuing formal diagnostic reports without the specialist training the work requires. Sources say the issue centres on MBBS doctors who complete short certificate courses or informal training in ultrasonography and then use the title Sonologist to sign off on ultrasound reports, a practice the regulators want to bring to an end.
The position being considered is that diagnostic ultrasound reporting should be carried out by radiologists holding recognised postgraduate qualifications, subject to registration and the rules of the relevant regulatory authorities. An official document cited qualifications including FCPS, MD, MCPS and DMRD in radiology, with recognition by the appropriate bodies as a central requirement. MBBS practitioners, the authorities are expected to advise, should stay within their authorised scope of practice and should not issue formal diagnostic reports without the required qualification and approval.
The warning extends beyond doctors alone. Professionals from medical, nursing and allied health fields are also expected to observe the limits of what they are legally permitted to do and to avoid independent ultrasound reporting unless they hold the necessary authorisation. Breaches could draw regulatory action, including inspections and financial penalties, and healthcare providers are being urged to check that their reporting arrangements comply with the rules before the enforcement begins.
The concern behind the move is patient safety. Reports of ultrasound examinations carried out by inadequately trained or unauthorised individuals at hospitals and clinics have raised fears of inaccurate findings, misdiagnosis and delays in getting the right treatment. Patients and their families have called for scans and diagnostic reports to be handled only by properly trained and authorised professionals, so that results can be trusted. If the regulators follow through, the change should give patients greater confidence that the person interpreting their scan is qualified to do so.
