The labs will come up under a joint venture between city-based NEON Healthcare and Research Institute Ltd and Hayes Lab in United States. The company officials have submitted a proposal to the state Health Ministry, asking the government to hand over space in these hospitals and medical colleges to create high-end and cost-effective diagnostic centres.

The locations identified to set up the labs include Siliguri, Bankura, Malda, north south Midnapore, Howrah, Kolkata, and Hooghly. All the 54 labs would be created within six months from the time of obtaining the approval, said the company officials. The centres will provide pathology, cardiology, imaging, tele-radiography and other diagnostic services.

Besides offering pathological services, the $100 million project would consider the specific requirements of the poor. Subsidy would be provided to those, who carry a government prescription.

“If the current proposal works out, rural Bengal would benefit a lot. Since we have just received the proposal, it would take some time to finalise it and put it into a policy framework,” said state Health and Welfare Minister, Surya Kanta Mishra.

“The global pathology market is estimated to be nearly Rs 60,000 crore and India, not being part of the even Rs 1 crore bracket, there is a need for more diagnostics centres. Our proposal would benefit nearly 2 crore patients,” said Sajal Dutta, director NEON Healthcare.

The proposed labs under the Public Private Partnership model would also act as six-month training centres for medical students seeking train in laboratory work.

“NEON is accredited with the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories (NABL). By joining hands with Hayes, it will bring benefits of latest pathology technology to our state,” said mayor Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya.