Dr Lal PathLabs to ramp up operations in Western India

Dr Lal PathLabs, India's largest diagnostic chain, is eyeing a leadership position in Western India, a market the company is investing significantly. Its subsidiary Suburban Diagnostics has opened its largest reference lab in Vidyavihar, Mumbai, which is expected to ramp up testing capabilities and volumes significantly in coming months.

"The new reference lab provides a wide array of super-specialised, specialised and routine diagnostic tests for meeting all diagnostic needs," said Dr Arvind Lal, chairman of Dr Lal Pathlabs.

The Mumbai reference or apex lab built with an investment of '15-16 crore, is fourth such apex lab for Dr Lal PathLabs in India and will expand the menu from 750 to 2,800 diagnostic tests and later up to 4,500. "Earlier the samples were going to Delhi, now they all will be tested here as the reference lab will become an independent ecosystem for Mumbai, Maharashtra and West zone," said Om Manchanda, managing director of Dr Lal Pathlabs. "The reference lab can add 4x volume, but a lot of the volume of testing is also supported by satellite labs, as we open more satellite labs," Manchanda added.

Along with Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat and Goa constitute the Western region. Manchanda said the demand for testing is expected to come from samples outsourced by smaller labs, nursing homes and hospitals along with expansion of direct-to-consumer business beyond Mumbai.