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Nicholas arm plans more `path' labs

Staff Reporter

100 diagnostic centres planned across the country at an outlay of Rs. 80 crore

IN EXPANSION MODE: Jayant S. K. (left), Head (Sales and Marketing), Wellspring, explaining a point to N. Santhanam, Group President, Nicholas Piramal, at the newly inaugurated centre in Mangalore on Saturday. — Photo: R. Eswarraj

MANGALORE: Wellspring, a wholly owned subsidiary of drug major Nicholas Piramal, plans to set up at least 100 pathology labs and diagnostic centres across India by March 2008 at an estimated cost of Rs. 80 crore, N. Santhanam, Group President (Finance and Legal) and Chief Financial Officer, Nicholas Piramal India, has said.

Besides, Wellspring will strive to achieve National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL) accreditation for 15 of its 50 labs by March 2007.

Addressing media persons after inaugurating `Wellspring-Ideal Path Lab' here on Saturday, Mr. Santhanam said the proposed expansion was part of a well laid out strategy to locate Wellspring Path Labs in B and C class cities in phases. Wellspring is now located in 35 cities, mostly in A class cities.

Mr. Santhanam said many pharma majors were eyeing India for Phase I to IV trials (for their medicines). "College of American Pathologists (CAP) accreditation for our clinical research organisations will enable them tap the U.S. markets, which offer huge potential," he added.

All under one roof

Referring to the Mangalore centre, Mr. Santhanam said it was housed in a location of over 3,000 sq. ft. on Falnir Road and provides for all pathology investigations under one roof. The lab is equipped to perform over four million pathology tests each year.

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