The Non-Governmental Organization Patologi Oltre Frontiera (APOF) was created in 2001 on the initiative of a group of pathologists who belonged to the International Activities Committee of SIAPEC (Società Italiana di Anatomia Patologica e Citologia diagnostica). The group is made up of doctors who are all experts in the field of international cooperation. Patologi Oltre Frontiera was created with the aim of contributing to the improvement of the standards of health care in Developing Countries through the setting up of projects whose objective is to reach (and maintain) an accurate and timely diagnostic activity. The objective is achieved by creating Pathology Departments either ex novo or by reactivating abandoned structures and providing them with adequate technical equipment, selecting and training local technical working staff, selecting and applying technical and administrative procedures suitable for the local context and, finally, by installing telemedicine workstations which permit constant diagnostic, didactic, organizational and technical long-distance assistance. During more than fifteen years of activity Patologi Oltre Frontiera has set up projects in Africa (Tanzania, Zambia, Madagascar, Uganda, Nigeria, Djibouti, Congo, Somalia), Latin America (Cuba), Europe (Kosovo) and the Middle East (Palestine). Over time, this has allowed the testing and consolidation of the effectiveness of the project model employed, which has shown itself to be extremely adaptable and functional. Patologi Oltre Frontiera is able to exploit to the full, both abroad and in Italy, the experience gained by highly specialized health personnel who work in the most important health structures and universities and who are fully supported by a team of technical staff who are experts in international cooperation. Furthermore, it has established partnership agreements with numerous institutions and associations, both national and territorial, in Italy and abroad.
