Steps to Start a Pathology Lab in India

The healthcare industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in India. Due to the increasing population, and citizens becoming more conscious about their health, India has become home to a large number of advanced hospitals and high-end diagnostic centers. Moreover, since the majority of the treatment decisions are based on the pathology results, it has enhanced the demand for diagnostic centers or pathology labs in the country. Therefore, if you are a medical professional, starting your own pathology lab can prove to be a lucrative business idea. However, setting up a pathology lab is not an easy task. You’ll have to put in a lot of effort and research before you go ahead with starting your own pathology lab in India. Let us have a quick look at some of the imperative steps on how to start a pathology lab.

Make sure that you plan everything well in advance. Proper planning can help you minimize your financial losses if things don’t go your way. You must also spend time researching the right location for your pathology lab. Make sure that the location you choose is in a hygienic area and is easily accessible to the people. Also keep the documents required for pathology lab handy.

You must ensure that your pathology lab has all the required facilities such as reception counter, clean restrooms, lift-services, wheelchairs, etc. Also, you will have to make sure that your pathology lab has all the required equipment including blood collection equipment, X-ray machines, CT-scan machines, USG machines, heart monitors, etc. You must also take care of peripherals that include microscopes, blood cell counters, centrifuge, regent and chemicals, dispensing scale, deep fridge, etc. to ensure that the quality delivered by you pathology lab is excellent.

You will be required to hire experienced and well-qualified staff to run your pathology lab efficiently. Make sure that you have a recruitment plan readily available with you for hiring the right people. You will have to hire doctors, nurses, pathologists and management executives as well. In addition to the core team, you will also have to employ administrative staff, HR, accountants and housekeeping personnel, to ensure the success of your pathology lab.

The pathology lab registration is a crucial step. To set up your own pathology lab, you will require pathology licenses. According to the law, these licenses vary from one business to another. However, you must take legal measures and apply for pathology licenses before starting your pathology lab. You must also register your pathology lab with government authorities before starting its construction and certification. Some of the licenses required to set up a pathology lab are mentioned below:

• Certification from National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL)
• Certification from Good Clinical Practices (GCP)
• Registration with Shops and Establishments Act
• Registration with the Clinical Establishment Act
• Registration with biomedical waste disposal body
• Approval for waste generation from state pollution board
• No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the fire department
• NOC from municipality