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A decade of leadership: the East Hospital conducts most cervical cancer colposcopy examinations and the relevant hands-on training in the country
For more than 10 years, the Riga East Clinical University Hospital (East Hospital) has been home to the leading colposcopy centre in Latvia which accounts for more than 80% publicly funded colposcopy examinations. The East Hospital’s medical staff plays the key role not only in the high-quality and modern treatment of cervical cancer, ensuring a multidisciplinary approach for patients, but also in the implementation and improvement of the national screening programme. The certified colposcopy specialists at the East Hospital perform approximately 5000 colposcopy examinations per year, making the hospital a key centre for hands-on training of all colposcopy specialists. Notably, the East Hospital also houses one of only three laboratories in the country certified according to European Guidelines for Quality Assurance in Cervical Cancer Screening, where cervical screening tests are conducted accordingly.
January is Cervical Cancer Awareness Month when special focus is placed on cervical cancer prevention, even more given that it is a fully preventable oncological disease. This year, the East Hospital’s specialists are not only encouraging the public to take full advantage of cervical cancer prevention measures, such as HPV vaccination and screening tests, but also highlighting the importance of educating healthcare professionals in this field.
More than a decade ago, several gynaecologists from the East Hospital travelled to the United Kingdom to learn colposcopy examination techniques, earning the UK colposcopy specialist certification. Upon their return to Latvia, they established the first national colposcopy centre at the East Hospital. Similar medical competence centres have since been established in Daugavpils and Liepāja. East Hospital accounts for 80% of publicly funded colposcopy examinations, with a total of seven certified colposcopy specialists conducting approximately 5000 colposcopy procedures annually.
Colposcopy is an important diagnostic method during which the cervix is thoroughly examined if changes have been detected during screening. Colposcopy is necessary not only for precise diagnosis but also for effective treatment if required.
Colposcopy is essentially similar to a gynaecological examination, during which the cervix is treated with a dilute acetic acid solution and examined under magnification with a colposcope, explains Associate Professor Jana Žodžika, the Head of the Gynaecology Clinic at the East Hospital. There is no reason for a woman to be afraid to undergo a cervical screening examination, as it is a routine gynaecological check-up during which a smear taken from the cervix is analysed for benign precancerous changes rather than cancer. If, however, the screening shows any changes, they are clarified and, if necessary, the lesions are quickly and easily removed during the colposcopy procedure.
“Cervical precancerous changes do not cause any symptoms or visible changes in the cervix that could be seen with the ‘naked eye’. The precancerous lesions are microscopic cellular changes which are detected by examining a cervical smear. These changes become visually visible only after treating the cervix with acetic acid and examining it under magnification with a colposcope,” points out Associate Professor Jana Žodžika.
Several conditions must be met for the examination to be performed to a high standard. First of all, the specialist must be specifically trained, which is why since 2016, a certification in colposcopy has been introduced in Latvia which can be obtained by gynaecologists or gynaecological oncologists. Second of all, the specialist must be experienced, which means that they must regularly perform a sufficient number of examinations. The use of precise equipment, i.e., high-quality colposcopes is also crucial. Therefore, high-quality colposcopy services can be accessed at the major healthcare institutions by certified and experienced colposcopy specialists.
All colposcopy specialists in Latvia undergo hands-on training at the East Hospital. To continue sharing their experience and knowledge with regional gynaecologists, general practitioners, and nurses, in January 2025, the East Hospital doctors held a training event at the Daugavpils Regional Hospital. The next training event is scheduled to take place in Cēsis on 31 January 2025.
Information about the East Hospital’s educational events in the regions is available here: https://aslimnica.lv/profesionaliem/izglitiba/konferences/
About the East Hospital
Riga East Clinical University Hospital is the largest and strategically significant multi-profile hospital in the country. The hospital consists of five inpatient facilities – Gaiļezers, Latvian Oncology Centre, Biķernieki, Tuberculosis and Lung Disease Centre, and Latvian Infectious Diseases Centre, along with various specialised centres and clinics. The hospital provides highly specialised inpatient and secondary outpatient healthcare, offering multidisciplinary tertiary-level treatment and care in line with modern technology and medical knowledge. Approximately 80% of all cancer patients in Latvia are treated at the hospital. It serves as a practical training base for both Latvian educational institutions and foreign students, providing further education and knowledge transfer to healthcare specialists within and beyond the country. The hospital engages in scientific research and develops innovative methods for patient treatment. As the third-largest employer in the country, the hospital employs around 5000 staff members.
