Medizinisch Diagnostiche Institute (MDI) Germany, the largest clinical laboratory in Germany, will invest Rs.150 crore in India to set up over 2,000 collection centres and a logistics network to transport samples and expand its network in Maharashtra, Gujarat, Bangalore and Mangalore.

In the first stage, the company will set up collection centres in Bangalore and Mangalore.

"We have drawn up Rs.150 crore expansion plans over the next three years period, of which our German parent Medizinisch Diagnostiche Institute which is the largest laboratory in Germany will invest Rs.50 crore. The expansion will be funded through internal accruals only for the Indian subsidiary,” said Devendu Mehta, director, MDI Laboratories India.

“We plan to install world-class automated machines and web-based software in 25 hospital labs across the country and it plans to achieve a turnover of Rs.50 crore in FY 13 and Rs.350 crore in FY 15. From its Indian subsidiary, we would achieve a turnover of Rs.350 crore in 2015,” he added.

The lab would also provide international standards of services and processes adopted for its operations, added to which is the fact that the Indian lab's doctors and technicians are getting special training in Germany. The laboratory at Bangalore and Mangalore will offer many new tests which are not available in India by sending samples to the laboratory in Germany and all this at affordable prices, he said.

According to CII-KMPG report, India's pathological laboratory sector is estimated at US$ 4.8 billion by 2015. The diagnostic and pathological laboratory test services market holds 52.1 per cent of share. The pathological sector is projected to contribute US$ 2.5 billion by 2012.

The diagnostics and pathological lab test market has the potential to grow at a CAGR of 18.9 per cent from FY 09-13. Currently there are over 12,000 hospitals and 15,000 diagnostic laboratories contributing extensively to the overall healthcare delivery market in India, Mehta said.