A number of years ago a telepathology network containing approximately 10 pathology departments was established in Hungary. This is to be considered as a creative initiative, which could ultimately form the basis of a larger telepathology network extending to the whole country and reaching out to a few European centres, as well. Telepathology is based on digital microscopy, virtual microscopy applying and capitalizing on the facilities of fast internet connections.

Considering the financial aspect of our profession, it can be safely claimed that the long and hard-fought battle has finally yielded considerable positive changes. However, since the whole of medicine is underfinanced, the gains from the relatively better financed pathology departments are used to support the complete operation of hospitals. Since the so-called deparmental accounting does not seem to work effectively enough either, the development and reconstruction of pathology departments has taken place in a very small number of hospitals only. The fact that our highly qualified pathologists of international reknown are expected to submit written requests to their respective hospital management in order to obtain formaline and other basic chemicals of daily use may sound unbelievable, yet it is true.

Consequently, it is not surprising that freshly graduated or young pathologists right after, or only a few years after their professional are trying to find jobs abroad, so that they can work among better circumstances and receive higher salaries. Even less surprising is the fact that our profession is aging rapidly, and the population of the new generation of pathologists may be insignificant in size, as a result of the brain drain tendencies prevelant in Europe.