The history of IMVS is a fascinating story of far-sighted idealism, service, extraordinary personalities and political difficulties. From the early 1900’s, the SA Government Laboratory for Bacteriology and Pathology (SAGLBP) provided a comprehensive State-wide service that included diagnostic testing, public health, preparation of vaccines and sera, veterinary and agricultural work. With leadership from Dr (later Sir) Trent de Crespigny, this was consolidated into the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science under its individual Act of Parliament in 1938, including the brief to pursue research into problems with a direct bearing on the diagnosis and treatment of disease of humans and animals.
Continuing expansion occurred. Many innovations followed, including the very early introduction of computer facilities for data processing and autoanalysers; responsibility for public health and food hygiene work; an extensive state-wide network of regional laboratories and patient collection centres; a bulk-billing arrangement with the Commonwealth for private pathology tests, and the successful winning of the majority of the State’s private pathology; many successful research programmes, including the formation of the Hanson Centre for Cancer Research. Staff included many individuals who played a recognised role internationally in microbiology, and many who went on to be leaders in the profession in Australia. With a staff of over 1,000, IMVS was one of the largest diagnostic/research institutions in the country.
Over recent years the IMVS underwent a number of reviews, partly prompted by its somewhat anomalous position in the accepted structure of State health services, partly due to financial difficulties across the whole of the health sector. Research came to be not always seen as a valid activity for the IMVS, and privatisation was raised as a possible solution to the “problem” on occasions. Finally, in 2008 the IMVS Act was repealed, the Council dissolved, and a new entity SA Pathology was created as a part of the Central Northern Health Service within the SA Department of Health.