How to open a pathology lab in India

Location

The place you choose to set up a Pathology Lab should be well connected and easily accessible. A Pathology Lab on the ground floor would make an ideal choice especially in the case of senior citizens. The location should be close to residential areas, hospitals, near small or big clinics, and commercial centres.

Investment

An average investment for a Pathology Lab in India ranges from 10 lakhs to 20 lakhs for a small to medium Lab setup (It also depends on your location, your city, lab size, equipment and tools, staff, software, marketing & branding, promotions and services that you offer).

Licensing and certification

BSc degree or diploma is needed to open a Pathology Lab in India. MBBS and MSc holders can also open laboratories. However certification and licence from Medical Council of India (MCI) is required.

1. Shop registration and establishment Act
2. Registration with clinical establishment Act
3. Registration of biomedical waste disposal authority
4. Approval from the board responsible for pollution control
5. NOC from the city corporation and the fire department
6. Accreditation through good clinical practices (GCP)
7. National accreditation bold issue for testing and calibration laboratories( NABL)

Infrastructure / Space

1. Sitting Arrangements (Should have a Drinking Water Facility, Ventilation, Benches).
2. Sample Collection Area (Should have TRF, Chairs and Table with all the sample collection equipment like Needles, Syringe, Gloves, Sanitizer, Cotton pads, Needle Cutter, Bendage, Tubes, Sample racks, Marker, Waste Buckets, Ice Box).
3. Reception Area (with a Computer to register patient information, Printer to print the bill).
4. Should have a first-aid area with some medicines for emergency cases. (Headache, Fever, Vomiting).
5. Seperate Washroom For males and females with water facility and proper hygiene.
6. Should have a clean environment with some indoor plants to purify air.
7. Should have a material storage room to keep all the reagents, chemicals, kits, or Documents of the lab.
8. Should have a staff room so that staff can keep their personal stuff.

Tools and Equipments

Sample Testing Area with all the equipment like (Testing Instruments like CBC Machine, Biochemistry Machine, Urine analysis Machine, Air Conditioner, Jars, Slides, Centrifuge, Microscope, Incubator, PPE, Fridge, Fire Extinguisher, Generator).

TRF

1. You can design a TRF according to your lab's needs. Normally it comes in black and white but you can choose colour according to your logo's theme.
2. TRF will need to be filled at the time of the specimen collection.
3. TRF should have all the tests ordered.
4. TRF should have Patient information like name, age, sex, registration number, contact Info., address, referral name, medical history.
5. Additional notes or remarks can be added.
6. After all the details TRF should be sent to the lab with the sample.

Staffing needs

Staff should have a proper knowledge and experience of Lab and Equipments and should have a proper Diploma or Degree. (Pathologist to Approve Reports).

1. Should be Humble to Patients.
2. Should know the way of communication.
3. Should have the basic knowledge of Computer to do the registration or to do the reporting.
4. Should be Loyal.
5. Should be trained for all the Emergency Situations.
6. Should have technical and Non-technical staff.
7. Should have proper knowledge of safety and hygiene.

Laboratory management software

1. Should have a proper reporting software.
2. Easy to use and accessible from multiple devices.
3. Can Generate bills and reports.
4. Can allow pathologists to see reports online and approve.
5. Can send reports online to make the process easier for the patient and lab.
6. Should have a facility for patients to track the report.
7. Should Have QR coded reports.
8. Should Have Data security feature.
9. Should record old data.

Marketing, Branding and Promotion strategies

1. Create an impressive logo and Letterhead that represents your lab. (on the back of your letterhead you can give some tips for patients to become Healthy like Do not get thirsty, Eat more fruits and vegetables, Do not skip breakfast, Do exercise daily, Try to skip sugary food).
2. Print Brochures. (Brochures should have all the information regarding Packages, Services, Offers you are providing).
3. Print Visiting Cards. (Visiting Cards should have Your Centre's proper details like Name, mobile number, address, email id, social media page and website if you have any).
4. Give ads in News Papers.
5. Do Free campaigns to promote your Pathology. (Distribute your visiting cards, Share your patient's feedback, give them some special offers to come to your lab).
6. Do some social media campaigns. (you can share patient's feedback or good experiences on your social media pages).
7. Do some paid advertisment through SEO.
8. Create a customer referral program. (Give some extra discounts to the patients who are referring more patients to your pathology).
9. Collaborate with Healthcare providers like Clinics, Hospital, Pathology Labs, Diagnostic Centres, Gyms, Wellness Centres, Yoga Centres so that they can refer patients to your pathology.
10. Do some Health Campaigns in your area's schools, colleges, or medical institutes, society parks. (to make people aware about your lab).