While the Delhi government has promised action against errant officers, this is a worrying development and questions the integrity of the sample testing done under the programme.
Diagnostic tests play a crucial role in disease surveillance, aiding doctors in providing optimal treatment options. They represent a key component of the National Health Mission, emphasising the need for a trustworthy system.
India‘s diagnostic services market, as per Polaris Market Research, stood at $16.23 billion in 2023, and is projected to reach $43.57 billion by FY32. Despite the healthy forecast, the sector faces challenges, including a shortage of skilled personnel and lax regulations, leading to the proliferation of unaccredited centres.
The future of medicine pivots on early diagnosis and targeted treatments. So, the next-gen lab will leverage the potential of AI and ML and prioritise personalised services, an expanding HNI-focused sector in India. They will integrate medical imaging with lab medicine and genomics, enabling the prediction of genetic predispositions to diseases such as cancer, heart disease and neurodegenerative conditions through genomic analysis.
This will usher in an era of predictive medicine, enhancing patients’ quality of life. The future lab report would be a personal go-to guide for behavioural change rather than a data dump. To achieve this transformation, stakeholders must shift their focus and investment to training people, robust processes and advanced products.