Dr Lal PathLabs Eyes New Markets

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New Delhi: New Delhi-based Dr Lal PathLabs Pvt Ltd (LPL), a provider of pathology diagnostics services, is looking at consolidating its current operations as well as foraying into new markets. Plans are under way to invest Rs 50 crore over a period of five years to expand its laboratory/diagnostic and collection centre network in the country. Tapping global business opportunity of advanced clinical trials for various drugs is also high on the agenda.

“Currently, the Hanuman Road and Okhla reference laboratories provide the backbone of operations. Considering our organisation’s future growth are to cater to medical requirements of a much wider patient base across India and bring the best diagnostic systems here, we plan to consolidate our present operations to establish one of the finest testing laboratories in Asia to be benchmarked with the best pathology laboratories in the world,” LPL managing director Dr Arvind Lal said.

LPL is looking to tap the international market of advanced clinical trials for various drugs, Dr Lal said. “The focus will remain on treating diseases like AIDS, cancer, leukaemia, heart and kidney diseases, among others,” he told eFE.

According to Dr Lal, reputed international and national pharmaceutical companies primarily conduct these clinical trials.

Dr Lal said, “Our laboratory, which is one of the first to be certified by the National Board of Accreditation for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) in India is also the first Indian laboratory to be awarded accreditation by the College of American Pathologists.” It has a technical alliance with Quest Diagnostics-Nichols Institute, a US-based laboratory chain, for specialised testing facilities. “We are looking at leveraging on our alliances to tap the market for clinical trials,” he said.

At present, LPL offers over 1,500 different tests and panels to 3,500 patients per day in the discipline of molecular diagnostics, biophysics, virology, immunophenotying, cytogenetics, endocrinology and oncology, among others. These testing facilities are offered by 10 laboratories/diagnostic centres, 200 collection centres and courier services accessing patient samples from 200 locations across the country. LPL is now looking at expanding the network to 50 laboratories/diagnostic centres and 500 collection centres during the next five years, Dr Lal said.

“LPL is also looking at the public-private partnership route in the field of pathology. It is already in the process of the successful implementation of the first laboratory with the government of Tripura. Talks are under way with two more state governments to replicate the model,” Dr Lal said.